Lower Back Pain

LOWER BACK PAIN
Lower back pain can arise from a number of different reasons and affect a range of different structures in our spine.
The lower, or ‘lumbar’ part of our spine is made up of five individual vertebrae, which are the most robust of all the spinal vertebrae. They are supported by an incredible network of muscles and ligaments that help us move in many different ways. Positioned between each bony vertebra is a spongy disc consisting of a mixture of a gel-like substance, collagen fibres and cartilage, which act together as a shock absorber for the spine and assist with multidirectional movements. The vertebrae of the spine protect our spinal cord, which runs from our brain down towards our tailbone. Nerves branch out from our spinal cord and are the carriers of messages that come from our brain.
The most common sources of back pain are usually related to overloading - whether that be acute pain, like lifting something too heavy without warming up, or it can develop slowly over time from repetitive movements or a sedentary lifestyle or occupation. This can strain the muscles or cause a sprain on the ligaments. Other causes of lower back pain can relate to irritation to the discs or nerves. This can cause pain down into our legs, as well as numbness and tingling.
The good news is that most cases of lower back pain are manageable through exercises and progessive movement strategies. Things such as sprains, strains, herniations, fractures and nerve irritations will heal over time and treatment will often look the same. Conditions such as disc degeneration and osteoarthritis can all be managed conservatively as well.