What Causes Back Pain?

One of the reasons that back pain is so common is that it’s associated with several different injuries, underlying conditions, or lifestyle factors. That said, most back pain is non-specific, meaning it’s not caused by a specific disease or specific structural problem, but caused by mechanical issues. Mechanical issues are difficult to pinpoint and may include multiple tissues in and around the spinal joints. 

The first step in treating your back pain is understanding what’s contributing to it. Our therapists will perform a comprehensive evaluation to help us learn as much as possible about your experience with back pain, including screening for any mobility limitations or weakness that may be the root cause of your difficulty. 

Here are some of the more common sources of back pain that we see at our clinic:

• Lifestyle Factors: Several factors can contribute to lower back pain, including improper posture, prolonged sitting, or weakness in the muscles that wrap and support your spine (your core muscles).
• The Hip Flexor Muscle: We find that one muscle, the hip flexor, if often overlooked and can play a key role in the underlying cause of back pain for many of our patients. This muscle comes from the front where it flexes the hip and then it wraps through the inside of the pelvis and attaches to the front side of the lumbar spine. It can become tightened and shortened with prolonged sitting and then pull on your spine from the front. This is why many of our patients find only temporary relief when they have tried massaging their low back muscles. It is because they have not released the hip flexor so their spine stays “locked” from the front side.
• Strains and Sprains: A strain occurs when you injure the muscles in your back. A sprain occurs when you injure the ligaments that link your spinal vertebrae. Both can cause pain and limited mobility, and they often result from lifting with improper form (such as twisting while lifting) or attempting to lift something too heavy.
• Herniated Discs: Soft, flexible discs separate and cushion your spinal vertebrae. If one of those discs herniates — that is protrudes out — and irritates a nearby nerve, it can lead to intense pain, feeling “stuck” in a stooped over position, and often pain down the leg known as sciatica.
• Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the world, occurring when the cartilage and bone tissue in a joint degenerate and become inflamed. While we often associate it with the hips, knees, or hands, it can occur in the spine, too. Spinal osteoarthritis is sometimes called spondylosis.

Why Physical Therapy at Vibrant Health Solutions/TherapyWorks Is Your Back Pain Solution

While back pain may resolve on its own within 1-3 months, physical therapy is an excellent choice for people who want to accelerate the healing process and get back to living a full life more quickly while learning how to prevent future pain. It’s also useful for people with chronic back pain — defined as pain that lingers past that three-month mark.

We customize all our back pain treatment plans according to your specific needs: the location and severity of your back pain, any mobility restrictions, your ability level, and overall goals. We’ll work to address the underlying issues causing your pain rather than simply masking the symptoms.

How will we do this? Through a blend of the following techniques:

• Manual therapy helps release tissue restrictions and trigger points (including the often-overlooked hip flexors), manage pain, promote blood circulation, and improve mobility.
• A personalized therapeutic exercise plan improves the strength, flexibility, and endurance of your back and core muscles. Muscle weakness significantly contributes to lower back pain, so exercise is a must.
• Specialized training, such as proper techniques and activities that simulate functional movements you’ll need to perform (i.e., squats, lunges, lifting, etc.).
• Prevention strategies help reduce future back pain incidents. These strategies might include postural corrections or suggestions for at-home exercises, such as a walking program or regular strength and mobility practice.

Get Moving Again with Physical Therapy!

Back pain is more than just pain. It can severely restrict your mobility, leading to less exercise and movement, further contributing to pain and dysfunction. The Vibrant Health Solutions/TherapyWorks team is here to help you break that cycle and find relief from back pain for good.

Call us today to schedule an appointment! 

Sources: https://www.choosept.com/guide/physical-therapy-guide-low-back-pain, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32669487/, https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004057.pub3/full