Lumbar Spine

Back pain accounts for approximately 7% of injuries in sports. Certain factors predispose the athlete to back injuries and acute back pain. In children and adolescents, a growth spurt may lead to a muscle tendon imbalance with tight hamstring muscles, tight low back muscles, and weak abdominal muscles. Secondly, abrupt increase in training intensity or frequency may result in back strain and pain. Leg length discrepancy can lead to low back strains. Improper weight training or sporting activities technically can increase the load on one's back and may cause pain.

Your lower back bears most of the weight and stress of your body. Back pain most often occurs from strained back muscles and ligaments, from improper or heavy lifting, or after a sudden awkward movement. Sometimes a muscle spasm can cause back pain. Often, there's an accumulation of stress with one particular event unleashing the pain. In many cases, there may not be an obvious cause.

The following specific conditions can also cause back pain. Because there's a definable cause, the conditions often also have a defined treatment.

• Herniated disk. This occurs when disk material presses on a nerve.
• Sciatica. This condition often occurs when a herniated disk impinges on the sciatic nerve causing sharp, shooting pain through the buttocks and back of the leg.
• Spinal stenosis. This condition occurs when the space around the spinal cord and nerve roots narrows due to arthritis and bone overgrowth. This can press or pinch a nerve.
• Spondylosis. Spondylosis is a type of arthritis affecting the spine. It is due to the degenerative changes in the spine that often come with aging.
• Spondylolisthesis. This condition occurs when one vertebra in the spinal column slips forward over another.

These rare but far more serious causes of back pain also have specific treatment related to the underlying cause.

• Cauda equina syndrome. This is a serious neurological problem causing weakness in the legs, numbness in the "saddle" or groin area, and loss of bowel or bladder control.
• Cancer in the spine. A tumor on the spine can press on a nerve causing back pain.
• Infection of the spine. If a fever and a tender, warm area accompany back pain, the cause could be an infection.
• Injury. Damage to the bones, ligaments, or muscles of the back can cause severe pain.

If you injure your lower back it is advised by your physiotherapist to seek treatment immediately to minimize the duration of the pain and to also give you preventative advice.

Physiotherapy treatment may include:

• Soft tissue release for tight muscles
• Mobilization of stiff joints
• Stretching and strengthening exercise
• Range of motion exercises to restore normal movement
• Acupuncture or dry needling

Preventative advice will be provided by your Sydney Physiotherapist regarding the causes of your back pain and ways to stop this back pain from happening again:

This may advice may include:

• Manual handling advice – i.e. advice when lifting heavy objects or babies
• Strengthening exercises for your core i.e. Pilates based exercises
• Ergonomic advice – is your workstation and your chair setup correctly to fit you
• Posture in standing and sleeping

If you symptoms persist your Sydney Physiotherapist will refer you to the appropriate medical practitioner.