Lower back pain: Everything you need to know

Lower back pain resides in the lumbar spine, nestled between the thoracic spine, pelvis, and sacrum—the region around those indented bones near the buttocks. This vital area supports our body weight and safeguards the spinal cord segment governing essential organ function, leg mobility, and the fundamental bending and arching of our trunk.

Lower back pain can have debilitating effects can make even simple movements agonizingly difficult. In severe instances, it can extend to affect the spinal nerves, causing pain that radiates through the hips and legs.

Amidst the various challenges life presents, lower back pain emerges as a prevalent concern. Astonishingly, nearly 80% of people will encounter low back pain at least once in their lifetime. Some staggering statistics underscore its impact:

• 80% of individuals experience lower back pain during their lifetime.

• 25% of people have experienced lower back pain in the past three months.

• It ranks as the foremost cause of job-related disability.

• In the United States, it stands as the primary health issue, costing over 100 billion dollars annually in insurance and productivity losses.

Lower back pain comes in two forms: acute and chronic. Acute lower back pain surfaces suddenly, often triggered by actions that strain the lower back's tissues, and usually subsides within a few days to weeks. Chronic lower back pain, on the other hand, persists for three months or more, posing a more enduring challenge. In both cases, seeking guidance from a healthcare professional is paramount.

While lower back pain affects nearly all of us, it generally resolves over time. However, identifying its source, pursuing appropriate treatment, and formulating a plan can significantly minimize its impact on your life.

The cause of lower back pain

Unveiling the origins the chief contributor to lower back pain is mechanical stress — a strain imposed on the ligaments and muscles of the lower back. Overburdening these structures can lead to muscle strains and ligament sprains, resulting in pain and impaired movement. If you've lifted excessive weight using your lower back, possess weak musculature in the lower back and hips, engage in twisting motions while bearing a load, maintain poor posture, or struggle with excess weight, you're at heightened risk.

Additional lower back pain culprits include gradual muscle weakness, degenerative disc disease, disc herniations, dysfunctional joints (like facet joint or sacroiliac dysfunction), osteoarthritis, trauma (such as compression fractures), scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, and spinal stenosis.

Numerous factors can contribute to low back pain, all best assessed by healthcare professionals. It's especially important to consult with a healthcare expert if you experience bowel or bladder issues, tingling sensations in your feet, or leg and feet weakness coupled with low back pain.

Who does lower back pain effect?

Low back pain can manifest as early as one's 20s and tends to increase in frequency with age—making it a concern across all age groups. Sadly, women are more susceptible to low back pain, particularly during menstruation, after pregnancy, and menopause, periods influenced by hormonal fluctuations.

A sedentary lifestyle heightens the risk of back pain. Prolonged sitting, inadequate physical activity, and gradual weight gain all play a role. Conversely, jobs that entail frequent bending, twisting, and lifting also expose individuals to lower back pain.

While exercise is encouraged, improper form during certain physical activities can raise the risk of back injury. Everything from a golf swing to running and lifting requires precise form to mitigate the danger of low back strain.

Identifying Risk Factors

• Age: escalating vulnerability beyond one's 30s.

• Occupation: repetitive bending, twisting, and lifting.

• Lack of movement: sedentary lifestyle and prolonged sitting.

• Lack of exercise: weakness in the hips, legs, and core.

• Smoking.

The majority of lower back pain cases resolve naturally, but understanding your treatment options can expedite your return to normalcy in a safe manner.

Learning how to manage your symptoms is empowering. Acquiring knowledge about what actions to take and avoid is key to improvement. Your therapist will guide you through safe movements tailored to you, regardless of the underlying cause of your lower back pain Learning movement strategies, pain management techniques, and the do's and don'ts can provide immediate clarity and peace of mind.

Keep active

While daunting, when dealing with lower back pain, is genuinely transformative. Guided movements and exercises benefit both acute and chronic cases. Your therapist can lead you through exercises that strengthen your core, pelvic floor, glute muscles, and overall compound movements. Below, you'll find some preventative exercises to explore!

Hands on therapy for lower back pain

Last but not least, hands-on therapy can be invaluable for alleviating muscle and joint pain, while also supporting movement and exercise. Complementary to movement-based strategies, techniques such as joint mobilization, myofascial release, massage, dry needling, cupping, and manipulations can help restore movement and manage pain.

By seeking professional guidance and implementing these strategies, you can embark on a journey towards relief from the burden of low back pain.

We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us near Essex Rd in Angel Islington.

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