Low back pain is the most common diagnosis seen in many physical therapy clinics, and it affects nearly 85% to 90% of Americans at one time or another. It is the second leading cause of visits to a doctor, after the common cold.Low back pain is also the leading cause of lost time at work, and billions of dollars are spent each year diagnosing and treating low back pain.
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Anatomy
Causes
Although trauma may be a cause of low back pain, most often there is no apparent reason for the onset of symptoms. Thus, it is thought thatrepetitive strainon the structures around the lumbar spine is the main cause of low back pain.
When to Seek Help
Remember, low back pain can be a serious problem and it is highly recommended to consult a physician, physical therapist or another qualified healthcare provider if low back symptoms are present and are significantly limiting function and mobility. Also, there are a few signs and symptoms that require immediate medical attention. These include, but are not limited to:
Why Symptom Location Is Important
Symptomlocation may also be helpful to identify the cause of the problem and to start self-management of low back pain.
What to Do When Low Back Pain Occurs
If you are currently experiencing low back pain, gentleself-care exercisesshould be started to restore mobility and decrease pain.Since poor posture is a major cause oflow back pain,maintaining proper postureis important. Use a small pillow or towel roll to support the spine while sitting. Remember, if pain prevents you from exercising or if pain persists for more than 2-3 weeks, a visit to a physician, physical therapist, or other healthcare provider is necessary.
What to Expect From Physical Therapy
When low back pain is persistent or interferes with normal activities, a visit to a physical therapist may be necessary. When you go to a physical therapist, he or she will perform an initial evaluation on the first visit. Be prepared to move around quite a bit, so be sure to wear comfortable clothing and make sure that your low back is accessible.
An initial evaluation will consist of several different parts. First, a history of your present problem will be taken. Be prepared to discuss your symptoms and what activities or positions make your symptoms better or worse. Some special questions will be asked to help the therapist determine the nature of your problem and to discover anything that needs immediate medical attention.
The physical therapist will also take measurements of how you are moving. This may include measurements of yourrange of motionandstrength. A postural assessment will also be included in the initial evaluation. From the results of the evaluation, a specific treatment plan will be devised and started. It is important to remember to be an active participant in your treatment and ask questions if you are unsure of what to do.
Coping and Management
When an acute episode of low back pain strikes, don’t panic. Most studies indicate that acute low back pain is short-lived and most symptoms resolve spontaneously in a few short weeks. With that in mind, low back pain, although short-lived, tends to be episodic in nature. Many times, people have multiple episodes of low back pain during their lifetimes. Recurrent episodes tend to get progressively worse with the passage of time. Therefore, it is important to not only treat the symptoms of low back pain but also to have a strategy to prevent future low back problems
One of the most important times to care for your low back is when you have no symptoms. By maintaining proper posture and appropriate strength and mobility in the spine, episodes of low back pain may be avoided completely. Check in with your physical therapist, who can help you learn what you can do for your back pain or sciatica.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Low back pain fact sheet.Delitto A, George SZ, Van dillen L, et al.Low back pain.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2012;42(4):A1-57. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.42.4.A1Shipton EA.Physical therapy approaches in the treatment of low back pain.Pain Ther. 2018;7(2):127-137. doi:10.1007/s40122-018-0105-x
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Low back pain fact sheet.Delitto A, George SZ, Van dillen L, et al.Low back pain.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2012;42(4):A1-57. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.42.4.A1Shipton EA.Physical therapy approaches in the treatment of low back pain.Pain Ther. 2018;7(2):127-137. doi:10.1007/s40122-018-0105-x
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Low back pain fact sheet.Delitto A, George SZ, Van dillen L, et al.Low back pain.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2012;42(4):A1-57. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.42.4.A1Shipton EA.Physical therapy approaches in the treatment of low back pain.Pain Ther. 2018;7(2):127-137. doi:10.1007/s40122-018-0105-x
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Low back pain fact sheet.
Delitto A, George SZ, Van dillen L, et al.Low back pain.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2012;42(4):A1-57. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.42.4.A1
Shipton EA.Physical therapy approaches in the treatment of low back pain.Pain Ther. 2018;7(2):127-137. doi:10.1007/s40122-018-0105-x
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