Low Back Pain: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments
Experiencing Pain in
Your Lower Back?
The low back supports the weight of the upper body and provides mobility for everyday motions such as bending and twisting. Muscles in the low back are responsible for flexing and rotating the hips while walking, as well as supporting the spinal column. Nerves in the low back supply sensation and power the muscles in the pelvis, legs, and feet.
Most acute low back pain results from injury to the muscles, ligaments, joints, or discs. The body also reacts to injury by mobilizing an inflammatory healing response. While inflammation sounds minor, it can cause severe pain.
Causes of Lower Back Pain
Muscle Strain and Ligament Sprain
A low back sprain or strain can happen suddenly, or can develop slowly over time from repetitive movements. Some causes include:
Lifting a heavy object
Sudden movements, like a fall
Poor posture over time
Sports injuries/accidents
Chronic Lower Back Pain
Pain is considered chronic once it lasts for more than three months and exceeds the body's natural healing process. Chronic pain isn the lower back often involves a disk problem, a joint problem, and/or an irritated nerve root. Some chronic causes of lower back pain include:
Lumbar herniated disc
Degenerative disc disease
Facet joint dysfunction
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
Treatment Options
Low Back Pain Treatment Options
The goal of medical treatments is to reduce pain, but these treatments do not change the underlying source of pain. A doctor will typically prescribe medical treatments alongside a physical therapy program or other regiment. Some treatment options include:
Muscle relaxants
Pain medication
Steroid injections
Massage therapy, acupuncture
Alternative Options
When experiencing acute pain, here are some options that help ease the pain:
- Hot or cold packs
- Resuming normal activities as soon as possible may ease pain; bed rest is not recommended
- Exercises that strengthen the core or abdominal muscles may help to speed recovery from chronic lower back pain
Always check first with a physician before starting an exercise program and get a list of helpful exercises
Questions? We'd love to help
How Physical Therapy Can Help with Lower Back Pain
The great news is that there are remedies and solutions for your lower back pain. One of the best options is working with a physical therapist.
A physical therapist is a trained professional that will assess your back ailment and suggest specific types of exercises to help you heal. Some of these include stretching, strength training, low impact aerobic activity, Manual Therapy, and Electrical Stimulation.
Personalized care
Decreased pain
Restored mobility
May eliminate need for surgery
Reduces risk of further injury
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