Back pain is a debilitating condition that will affect the majority of Americans at some point during their life. In fact, the most recent estimates range from 60% to 80% (depending on the source), regarding the number of Americans that will experience back pain at one or more occurrences during their life span. It can be disruptive to both work and daily life, extremely debilitating and can progress to larger issues if not treated quickly and effectively.
Back pain can arise due to a number of different reasons:
- It can be of traumatic origin, such as a car accident or a high impact fall.
- It can be degenerative in nature, occurring as the vertebral bones become arthritic and the joints they form no longer move as well.
- It can be postural, developing when poor muscle control causes nerves that emerge off the spine to become irritated.
While there are countless other reasons for low back pain, these are a few of the more common ones.
Importantly, issues in the low back can result in symptoms that go beyond simply feeling “low back pain.” Irritation to the nerves that emerge off the lumbar spine can cause burning and shooting pain down the legs and into the feet. Impingement (compression) on these nerves can cause a lack of feeling or numbness and tingling throughout the lower extremities as well as profound strength loss in the legs and/or feet (a sign of an emergent problem). Chronic back pain can also cause poor posture, difficulty walking and difficulty performing routine activities of daily living.
Back pain can be treated in different ways, but often times, those courses of treatment begin with physical therapy. For low back pain, manual, hands-on techniques can relieve pressure and pain from compressed nerves, improve posture and improve flexibility. In addition to this, physical therapist-directed core and hip strengthening programs can target the weaknesses that often are responsible for the development of the pain; thereby curing it and preventing a future recurrence.
By Jeremy Schain, DPT, CSCS
If you or someone you know is suffering from acute or chronic low back pain or the associated symptoms mentioned above, please call Loudoun Sports Therapy Center at 703-450-4300 and we would be happy to get you on the path to healing.
CLICK HERE for more on how physical therapy can help you.
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