Eighty percent of the population experience back pain at some stage during their life! Back pain is a symptom caused by numerous biopsychosocial conditions. It is one of the most common reasons for people to have a sick day and it is advisable to seek treatment from a first line medical provider like a physiotherapist at Healesville Sports Medicine.
Fortunately, most back pain is caused by musculoskeletal conditions and can be readily treated with great success If given the correct advised and empowering the patient to move within their tolerance.
Generally lower-back pain can be avoiding by understanding the your body and doing some appropriate back mobility exercise, strengthening with a physio
LOWER BACK ANATOMY
Your lumbar spine (otherwise know as your lower back) is made of five vertebrae (called Lumber 1 to Lumbar 5) in between these vertebrae are lie shock absorbing structures called fibrocartilage discs (interverterbral discs). The spine is a complex designed to protect to spinal cord.
The design off the vertebrae allow flexion and extension (forwards and backwards) along with couple movements in multiple planes.
The lumbar spine articulates with your sacrum. A wedge shaped structure fits nicely between your pelvis and is support by numerous ligaments.
Nerves stem form the spinal cord through holes called foramens at each of the levels on both sides. These provide the muscles with sensations and messages to produce movement, as well as feel touch and generate reflexes. Stability of your spine is from the ligaments and muscles of the back, lower back and abdomen.
WHAT CAN CAUSE LOWER BACK PAIN?
Acute or sudden low back pain is most often caused by a injury to the muscles and ligaments that are supporting your back. The pain is a protective mechanism of the body designed to make your notice and not continue the aggravating activities. Pain maybe caused by muscle spasms or a strain or tear in the muscles or ligaments, but occasionally it can be more sinister (<1%)
Sudden Low Back Pain Causes
Muscle spasm
Spinal disc injury
Fractures
Compression fractures e.g. Osteoporosis
Radiculopathy (more commonly known as Sciatica)
Tumours
Cauda Equina Syndrome
Non-Musculoskeletal Causes of Low Back Pain
Abdominal aortic aneurysm
Kidney stones
Female reproductive organs (pregnancy complications, ovanian cysts, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy)
Infection of the spine e.g. (osteomyelitis)
Spondyloarthropathies e.g. (rheumatoid arthritis)
Most importantly what this shows is that your physiotherapist must take a through a history to get as much information from you to work out what are the potential causes of lower back pain. It is always advised to seek a medical opinion with low back pain.