The Low Down on Lower Back Pain

Do you suffer from lower back pain?  You’re not alone.  About 80% of adults in the U.S. will experience lower back pain at some point in their lifetimes.  Lower back pain affects millions of Americans every year and is often caused by a sedentary lifestyle or heavy use.  Whether you’re working out at the gym or simply sitting at a desk too long, our bodies have a certain way of telling us we’re overdoing it.

Am I at Risk for Lower Back Pain?

Back pain can range anywhere from a dull, constant ache to a sharp, sudden sensation that leaves you debilitated.  Lower back pain can be caused by poor posture, lifting something too heavy or the wrong way, or it can develop over time due to age-related changes of the spine.  A strenuous workout or sedentary lifestyle can also set the stage for lower back pain.

Lower Back Pain Common Causes:

  • Sprains and strains
  • Disc degeneration
  • Herniated or ruptured discs
  • Sciatica
  • A traumatic injury
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Skeletal irregularities

Lower Back Pain Treatment

Treatment for lower back pain may include physical therapy, rest, heat and ice packs and medications to reduce symptoms.

Not all lower back pain is the same, so your treatment should be tailored to your specific needs and condition.  Individualized treatment for your specific lower back pain problems may include:

  • Manual therapy, spinal manipulation to improve the mobility of your joints and tissues
  • Strengthening and flexibility exercises
  • Education on how you can take better care of your back to prevent lower back pain
  • Education and tips on proper lifting, bending, sleeping positions and posture
  • Use of heat or ice treatments or electrical stimulation to help relieve lower back pain

Your physical therapist will work with you to improve or restore mobility and reduce lower back pain.

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