If you have a sore, achy, or painful lower back, you’re definitely not alone! In fact, over 80% of adults will experience low back pain once in their lifetime. Additionally, back pain is the most common cause of work-related disability, as well as a major contributor to missed work days.
Back pain can be extremely debilitating and can drastically change our quality of life and the way we go about our everyday activities. Back pain isn’t something anyone should have to live with, and that’s why we’re here to help!
Back pain can be a pain in the neck – literally!
Our backs are like the foundation of a building – if something’s not quite right at the base, the whole tower can end up being askew. This can cause aches and pains in the hips, shoulders, and neck, as well as tension and headaches.
Pain originating from the lower back can also radiate to different parts of the body. Most commonly, pain can also be felt in the hips, buttock, groin, and occasionally down the legs.
Why do we get back pain?
Back pain can result from a number of different causes. Sometimes, the triggering event can be clear such as falling or picking up a heavy object. Other times, the cause of our back pain can be difficult to pinpoint. These types of back pain are typically the result of accumulated strain on our back over time. In general, we spend a large portion of our day sitting in a slightly hunched over position. This creates strain on the different structures in our back, which can slowly grow over time and start to cause pain.
What can be done?
To work on resolving back pain, we focus on three components.
- Posture
- With the amount of time we spend sitting at a desk, in front of the TV, on the phone, or in other similar positions, it’s important that we have good posture in order to prevent unnecessary strain on our back. Whether sitting or standing, ideal posture is a key component in keeping your back healthy. If posture’s one of the causes of your back pain, we can advise different tricks and tools, such as lumbar rolls, to help!
- Range of motion
- To move through life, we need to bend, extend, twist and turn freely on a regular basis. To do so safely, we need to have the right amount of range in our back in all these directions. This range can be assessed and subsequently improved, if needed, with gentle mobilizations and exercises.
- Strength
- Our core muscles, which encircle the body, help keep our spine safe and stable while we move throughout the day. Unfortunately, most people with back pain don’t have optimal core strength. A safe exercise program can be created to work on regaining the core strength needed to help eliminate back pain and keep it away.
An inadequacy in any of these three components can lead to future recurrences in your back pain as well as further strain and damage to the different structures in our back.
If you have back pain, one of our physiotherapists will assess these three components and work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that will work towards eliminating your back pain and also give you the tools necessary to keep it that way.
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