Almost 80% of people will experience pain in their lower back once or more in the span of
their lifetimes. Lower back pain can lead to various health complications including temporary
disabilities and limited mobility. In addition, low back pain can affect productivity in other
aspects of your life including work, school, sports, and other important every day activities.
Physiotherapy can help you return to your optimal level of mobility and lessen the chances of
lower back pain. Physiotherapists can offer wide variety of treatments and techniques and
provide advice on how to care for the lower back in order to prevent pain from occurring.
What Are the Common Causes That Contribute to Having Lower Back Pain?
The common causes for lower back pain can be divided into two streams. The first one is
physical activity— too much or too little activity can cause lower back pain. The second
common cause for lower back pain stems from underlying health conditions that might lead
to developing lower back pain as a symptom or side effect.
1. Activities
Too much or too little physical activity can lead to experiencing pain, not just in the lower
back but also in the other parts of the body. Here are some causes of low back pain:
Overstretching of the Muscles
This usually happens when carrying heavy objects which causes the muscles to be
overstretched and the tendons to be torn. Eventually, sprain can develop and lead to more
serious conditions such as lower back pain.
Pregnancy
With their ligaments and muscles being stretched, pain in the lower back of pregnant women
can be inevitable. Also, the additional weight of the baby can cause stress in the lower back.
Herniated Discs
A herniated disc may occur after an accident, such as falling or slipping. In this condition, the
spine gets damaged and pain develops, sometimes progressing down to the legs.
2. Underlying Health Conditions
As stated, underlying health conditions can contribute to experiencing lower back pain.
These include:
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a condition that involves experiencing widespread pain in the muscles and
tissues. It can also lead to having more health-related issues.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is the curving of the spine which is caused by other conditions. This further results
in developing lower back pain.
How Can Physiotherapy Help in Treating Lower Back Pain?
Physiotherapists are experts that are knowledgeable in treating lower back pain. Your
physiotherapist may use methods such as traction, diathermy and ultrasound.
For a more specific explanation of how physiotherapy can help, here are some of its aspects
together with an explanation on how it can produce positive effects:
1. Advice
A physiotherapist can provide you with preventive advice in the early stages of your lower
back pain in order to manage and reduce its progression. Also, ergonomic aids can be of
great help, in the form of, for example, an ergonomic chair. With these aids, the body
experiences comfort while sitting or standing still.
2. Stabilization of Muscles
Physiotherapy treatments also include strengthening and stabilizing the muscles which have
been affected and weakened because of lower back pain.
3. Stretching and Exercising
Stretching and exercising are also typically part of physiotherapy treatments. Exercise plans
prepared by a physiotherapist are well-structured and individualized to address your specific
condition.
4. Guidelines for Proper Posture
Another aspect of physiotherapy that helps in treating and preventing lower back pain is
guiding the posture. Improper posture is a common cause for pain in the lower back and a
guideline on achieving correct posture is typically given to you once you consult a
physiotherapist. It is up to the patient you to apply and maintain the posture guidelines in
order to lessen the chances of lower back pain from occurring again.
What to Expect from Physiotherapy Methods
Your physiotherapy treatment plan may require more than one session depending on the
severity of your lower back pain. After treatment, you should expect feeling of comfort and/or
relief. You can also expect to experience certain changes in your lifestyle, especially in the
way you sit, stand and sleep. Lastly, having some essential exercises is also expected to be
a part of your treatment plan as well.
Final Words
Experiencing pain in the lower back be hassle by affecting your productivity and it may also
lead to disability and other serious complications. It is important therefore to prioritize
treatment as soon as possible.
Physiotherapy is indeed one of the most effective ways to treat lower back pain, and it is
also a good method preventing the pain from occurring again.