Around 70 to 90% of people will suffer from lower back pain at some stage in their life. Although a common occurrence that affects a lot of people, there are things we can do to prevent, treat and manage different types of back pain. Not all back pain is the same for some; it is achy and dull; where others might experience deep, sharp pain.
In our experience, back pain is linked to multiple factors, with usually more then one thing contributing to the pain. It can be related to poor posture and previous injuries, creating postural imbalances within your body. Sometimes back pain can occur after a specific onset such as a fall or activity, causing a strain or sprain of the muscles and joints of your back.
Pain is the most common complaint with back issues. However, sometimes it can refer down into your legs and may present with other sensations such as pins and needles or numbness.
Can an Osteopath help my back pain?
As osteopaths, we are trained to treat many different aspects of the body, including the back! We have a range of diagnostic tools that we use to help us identify what tissues are causing the pain. We also want to address the root cause to prevent it from coming back; this is why osteopaths look at the whole body from your head to your toes!
What exercises can I do for back pain?
Mobility exercises such as moving your spine side-to-side and forward and back will help gain movement through restricted areas of your back and can help reduce tension through your spine. Another way to help reduce tightness in your back is stretching. You can do this through your buttocks, hamstrings and back to help reduce muscle tension around after a long day.
Staying active and doing something you love like walking or swimming is an excellent way to healthy and maintain the range of movement in your back. Keeping joint mobility and moving is a great way to avoid stiffness and pain.
Listen to your body, and notice when you have any restrictions or niggles that won’t go away. Do yourself a favour and get checked out by a health professional; this can help you avoid injury and keep your body happy and healthy!
Remember if any of the stretches, like the one below, give you any sort of pain or discomfort, make sure to stop the exercise!
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