Lower Back Pain

Did you know Low back pain in now the number one cause of disability globally?

 Your low back is the area between the lowest parts of your rib cage to your pelvis.

Some of the structures in the low back include:

1. The Lumbar vertebrae
2. Nerves
3. Muscles
4. Fascia
5. Organs

And there’s much more…

It is important to understand that LBP is a symptom, not a disease.

Many different things can cause LBP & that often there is no one cause, making many sore areas as non-specific low back pain.

So, what can you do about LBP?

1. Bussieres, et al., Identified the benefits of spinal manipulative therapy with patients

Chiropractic is a fantastic therapy to identify and treat the causes of issues such as lower back pain. Good chiropractors will use your clinical presentation, history and orthopaedic testing to determine the underlying cause.

• Remain physically active – ideally through group exercises or over home- based exercises

Motion is the lotion. Movement and strengthening used correctly can create strength and space for pain relief. Keeping active is one of the best ways to stay healthy.

• Myofascial therapy, and STW techniques such as massage

We will cover this further in another blog, however massage can create the correct conditions for greater freedom and movement. Releasing muscles and lowering stress and pain response allows massage to let the body reduce symptoms and in cases heal underlying causes.

• GP Consultation

Asking your GP about other avenues of treatment or ways of reducing symptoms may be beneficial.

Here’s a list of some of the more common causes of Low Back Pain

1. Intervertebral Disc issues
2. Facet joint issues
3. Vertebral body end plate irregularities – Modic Changes

Some of the less common causes include

1. Malignancy
2. Vertebral fracture
3. Infection
4. Inflammatory disorders such as axial spondylarthritis.

Important to note that there is no evidence that imaging i.e. x-rays and MRI, improve patient outcomes and that the guidelines recommend against the use of routine x-rays for people with LBP.