Physio Health Advice > Keep mobile this Summer
A sore back will dampen your Summer fun!
It’s great to be active, especially when the days are fine and energetic but if you have lower back pain, then there are a few things you should know if you want to be fully mobile this Summer.
Low back pain is a common problem so if you suffer from low back pain, you are not alone. Managing your low back pain may not be a simple matter. You need to be aware of a number of factors to help you decide what to do to treat the problem and how you can influence the outcome. Here are some things you might like to consider:
1. It may not get better on its own
In most instances of lower back pain, the problem may settle within a few weeks. However, many people are still affected in some way by their pain 12 months down the track. Also, flare-ups are very common. So, whilst you may get better doing nothing about your back pain, to ensure the quickest and best outcome you should seek assistance.
2. Physiotherapy will help
Physiotherapy can help you overcome an episode of low back pain. The goal of physiotherapy is to restore pain free movement, and to help you maintain this improvement over the longer term. At Essential Physio, we use a range of modalities to achieve these goals. These can encompass things such as hands-on type treatments, exercise therapy, dry needling or electrical modalities to name a few.
3. There may not be an overnight cure
Recovery can take time and can be related to various factors. These include the severity of the problem and also the state of your tissue prior to injury. For example, if you are a 55 year old manual worker, your spinal tissue may be degenerated (worn out) prior to injury. This may mean a slower recovery than in a 21 year old with less degenerative changes in the spine. Other contributing factors can include your general health, your weight, whether you are a smoker, your fitness and if you suffer from depression.
4. Anti-inflammatory medication
You should be wary of over reliance on anti-inflammatory medication. Whilst it may play a role in some cases, it should not be the only intervention you use to you treat your low back pain. Other modalities such as tailored exercises should be incorporated into the management program. Remember, a study in the USA a few years ago suggested that for every $1 spent on anti-inflammatory medication, a further 75 cents had to be spent treating the adverse side effects.
5. ‘Core stability’
‘Core stability’ is a buzz word in low back pain management. Improving your ‘core’ muscles may help you overcome resistant back problems and avoid recurrence. These exercises need to be specifically tailored to your needs, usually by us (as we have knowledge in this area).
6. Ongoing exercises
One of the biggest risk factors in suffering a back injury is a previous back problem. As such, you need to continue general fitness, mobilising and ‘core’ exercises long after you recover from your back injury to try to help prevent recurrent problems.
7. Posture and work
Your posture and the work you do can contribute to the development of low back problems. Prolonged sitting, working in a bent forward position and heavy or repeated lifting can all be factors in you developing a back problem. These need to be addressed if you want a good outcome.
8. X-rays
There is very little value in having X-rays early on to help manage lower back pain. They have no value predicting who will get back problems, who has back problems or identifying what the problem is. Having too many X-rays throughout your life can be harmful to your health.
In any event, please feel free to consult us for more advice and corrective treatment.
