Over 80% of people will experience back pain during their life! Generally, back pain is related to a biomechanical (movement) disorder of the spine as spinal joints are rich with nerves and will send pain signals when compressed or inflamed.

Low back pain that is caused and aggravated by frequent or prolonged flexion movements (sitting and bending) can generally be referred to as flexion related back pain. Pain may be localized or felt in the buttocks or thigh. When pain shoots down the leg this is called radicular pain or sciatica (compression of sciatic nerve).

Lower back pain can be caused by irritation of multiple structures such as intervertebral discs, facet joints, ligaments or surrounding muscles due to injury or overuse. These may present as nerve compression (pinched nerve), herniated or bulging discs, degenerative disc disease, muscle sprains, ligament strains, or arthritic changes (facet joint syndrome) among others.

You can also suffer lower back pain associated with systemic conditions such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis.

As general low back pain may refer to a few different conditions a proper assessment by a physiotherapist is recommended. Physicentrix can also help you determine if any biomechanical, dietary, lifestyle, training issue or otherwise may be additional factors to consider in managing your rehabilitation.

It is important that you maintain activity whenever possible as excessive rest is not helpful in managing lower back pain and may even be harmful to your rehabilitation.