Back pain affects up to 85% of people at some time in their lives, and is the most common disability in those under 45 years of age.
Back pain can arise gradually without incident, or it can arise suddenly and severely following a seemingly simple movement.
There are many sources of lower back pain including:
- Disc bulge/prolapse/herniation
- Locked or inflamed facet joints
- Compressed spinal nerves
- Muscle strains and muscle trigger points.
- Spondylosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Stress fractures
- Sacroiliac joint injury
- Lumbar instability
- Spinal canal stenosis
- Crush fracture
- Osteoporosis
- Fibromyalgia
The most important aspect of treating acute and chronic lower back pain is ensuring you have obtained an accurate diagnosis. This is obtained through a through history, and comprehensive physical examination looking at all structures of the lower back. If we think that an MRI would be beneficial in assisting the diagnosis we can arrange this immediately. Once you have a clear diagnosis, we will explain the problem, and embark on a specific treatment program for your injury, often using a combination of the following techniques.
Mobilisation, manipulation, electrotherapy, dry needling, muscle re-education, Clinical Pilates, massage.
If you would like further information regarding how we may be able to help with your back pain, just ‘Ask a Physio’ and we’ll reply to you today.
