A comprehensive guide to low back pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Low back pain is one of the common musculoskeletal conditions, described as pain ranging from the lower ribs to the buttocks region. There can be various causes of low back pain, such as repetitive strain or sprain of back muscles, arthritis, osteoporosis, ankylosing spondylitis, or a bulging or ruptured disk. Low back pain can be categorized as:
Acute: Lasting for less than 6 weeks
Subacute: Lasting for 6 to 12 weeks
Chronic: Lasting over 12 weeks
This condition can significantly affect your ability to perform daily activities, impact your social life, and reduce your overall quality of life.
Symptoms of Low Back Pain:
Pain in the lower back region
Stiffness and reduced mobility
Muscle tension and spasms
Affected ADLs and decreased strength
Pain that may radiate to the legs
Difficulty with prolonged sitting, standing, or walking
This condition can significantly affect your ability to perform daily activities, impact your social life, and reduce your overall quality of life.
Warning signs requiring immediate medical consultation: Seek urgent medical consultation if you experience:
Severe, constant night pain
Loss of bowel or bladder control
Bilateral numbness in both legs
How can Physiotherapy help you? During your initial visit, a physiotherapist will conduct a detailed assessment, including a subjective history, rule of red flags requiring immediate attention, objective tests, and a physical examination. They will then determine a clinical implication/ diagnosis, determine treatment goals, and develop a personalized treatment plan.
Physiotherapy Interventions include:
Education and Reassurance: Ergonomic advice, postural correction, self-management strategies, positioning, and activity modification.
Manual Therapy Techniques: Joint mobilization to improve mobility, soft tissue release to relieve trigger points, reduce muscle strain, and enhance flexibility.
Therapeutic Modalities: Heat or ice, interferential current therapy, ultrasound, and taping for pain relief and inflammation reduction..
Therapeutic Exercises:
Stretching and mobility exercises for the hips, back, and pelvis
Strengthening exercises for the core, trunk, and lower extremity muscles
Postural correction exercises
Progressive loading exercises and functional training to improve tolerance to daily activities
Self-Management Strategies to Relieve Back Pain at Home:
Take frequent short breaks and incorporate regular movement
Use proper lifting techniques
Make ergonomic modifications to your workspace
Maintain good posture
Follow a home-based exercise program
Use heat or ice as needed
Contact us today!
At Health Plus Physiotherapy, we create personalized treatment plans tailored to your needs, helping you move better, feel stronger, and live pain-free.
