Back Pain

It is estimated that up to 80% of the population will experience back pain at some point in time in their lives.

Back pain can range in intensity from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp sensation that leaves the person incapacitated.

Pain can begin abruptly as a result of an accident or by lifting something heavy, or it can develop over time due to age-related changes of the spine. Sedentary lifestyles also can lead to back pain, especially when a weekday routine of getting too little exercise is punctuated by strenuous weekend workout.

Most low back pain is acute, or short term, and lasts a few days to a few weeks. The majority of acute low back pain is mechanical in nature, meaning that there is a disruption in the way the components of the back (the spine, muscle, intervertebral discs, and nerves) fit together and move.

Osteopaths are experts at diagnosing and treating back pain and, invariably, we find that strain patterns from elsewhere in body, causes or exacerbates the back pain. Therefore, by addressing these areas, as well as the injury itself, is the best way to get a long term solution to the pain.

Some of the common causes of back pain are muscle or joint strain, which can occur when lifting or overstretching.
Other commonly seen causes are ligament strains, disc issues (bulging discs, annular tears, etc) and degenerative changes in the spine.