Health blog Category: Back Pain
Common Sources of Low Back Pain
Low back pain is one of the leading causes of disability and lost work time among adults.
What is the low back:
Low back refers to the lumbar curvature of your spine- the last 5 segments before reaching your bum.
Common Conditions:
- Nonspecific Low Back Pain
- most common
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Increased compression on a nerve causing burning, numbness, tingling into your glutes, thighs and/or down the length of the leg
- The sciatic nerve running down the back of the leg is commonly impacted this way, hence the term “sciatica”
- Not all radiculopathies are associated with the sciatic nerve
- Increased compression on a nerve causing burning, numbness, tingling into your glutes, thighs and/or down the length of the leg
Common Misconceptions:
- MRI or x-ray findings are associated with your pain experience
- Most people over the age of 25 will have some remarkable finding on an image of the spine (e.g.
Back or Neck Pain?
When you have an ache or pain it can leave you scratching your head as to where the pain is truly coming from. Just because it hurts in that part of your leg or arm, doesn’t mean that is where the problem is coming from. Is it a bulging disc, muscle strain or did you just over do it?
Being a physical therapist is much like being a mechanic for the body. Where is that pain coming from, what type of pain is it, are you out of alignment, what are you not able to do that you want to get back to, how is your body moving incorrectly, etc.?
Mobility in this Joint can be a Reason for Back Pain
Believe it or not, your hips play a large role in the health of your back and limited hip mobility can cause back pain. More than 80 percent of the population will suffer from back pain at least once in their life, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. It is the price we pay for walking upright on two legs.
However, the majority of back pain is non-specific, meaning that there is not a primary cause, such as a fracture or disc protrusion.
Herniated and Bulging Discs: Symptoms to Look For
Radiating pain, numbness or tingling is a possible indicator that one or more of your nerves may be irritated by a bulging or herniated disc.
What are Discs and What do They do?
The bones in our spine are called vertebrae and in-between the vertebrae are our discs, these discs act as shock absorbers. These control the spine’s range of motion, flexibility and keep the bones and spinal cord safe from damage.
Read full blogWhy Does Our Back Hurt?
Low Back Pain is one of the most common reasons for disability in Americans and impacts a very large portion of the population. You may be wondering why this is.
Contributors of Low Back Pain
There are many contributors to this type of pain, some being:
- living a sedentary life-style
- being overweight
- core weakness
- sitting for large portions of the day
- trauma
- muscle imbalances
- overall aging
Our population is living longer than ever before, but with that comes increased degenerative changes occurring.
Read full blogLower Back Problems: A Common Complaint
Lower back problems are one of the most common complaints we encounter in physical therapy. The majority of adults will experience back pain at some point in their lifetime. The back pain they experience may only last a short time or it could linger for months. Back pain affects men and women equally and can even be seen in children and teenagers.
Structures in our Back
There are many different structures that are at risk for injury in your lower back.
Read full blogFeatures of Sciatica
Sciatica refers to pain that radiates from the back, deep into the buttock and down into the back of the leg. This is generally caused by compression and irritation to the sciatic nerve. Sciatica generally develops over time due to repetitive postures or physical activity; for example individuals who do a lot of sitting are at greater risk.
Features of Sciatica:
- Pain- is generally described as a sharp shooting pain or burning sensation deep into the buttock that can travel down into the leg and foot.
Common Causes of Low Back Injuries
The single most common cause of lower back pain is a torn or pulled muscle and/or ligament. The lumbar spine, or low back, is a remarkably well-engineered structure of interconnecting bones, joints, nerves, ligaments, and muscles all working together to provide support, strength, and flexibility. However, this complex structure also leaves the low back susceptible to injury and pain.
Common causes of sprain and strain include:
- Lifting a heavy object, or twisting the spine while lifting
- Sudden movements that place too much stress on the low back, such as a fall
- Poor posture over time
- Sports injuries, especially in sports that involve twisting or large forces of impact
Common Injuries and their symptoms:
- Lumbar Herniated Disc
- The jelly-like center of a lumbar disc can break through the tough outer layer and irritate a nearby nerve root.
Tips to Avoid These Three Common Back Injuries
Take a look below to see some of the common injuries and some tips to avoid back pain.
Herniated/bulging disc:
This injury commonly occurs with an increased load from bending forward such as lifting or pushing a heavy object, falling, or sitting for a long period of time. The best way to avoid a herniated disc is:
- To follow proper lifting mechanics
- Build up good core strength
Core strength is associated with the deep abdominal muscles and muscles surrounding the hip or glutes.
Read full blogKey Ways to Relieve Neck & Back Discomfort
There are many common causes of both back pain and neck pain. However, both of these can be treated with physical therapy.
Causes of Back Pain:
- Changes in the spine’s anatomy
- Lumbar disc herniation
- occurs when the gel-like interior of the disc leaks outward and irritates the nerve roots. It typically causes a stabbing pain in the back of the legs and back pain.
- Lumbar degenerative disc disease
- Wear and tear on the spinal discs can lead to lumbar degenerative disc disease.
