Suffering from Low Back Pain?
Back pain is a very common condition. At any given time, between 4.4% and 33% of the UK adult population suffers from low back pain. Approximately half of the UK adult population (49%) report low back pain for at least 24 hours at some point over the course of a year, and an estimated 4 out of 5 adults will suffer back pain at some point in their lives.
There are a few different classifications of Low Back Pain but for the purpose of this article we are going to talk about Non-Specific Low Back Pain as this is by far the most common cause of low back pain, accounting for around 95% of cases. Here cases vary between sprained ligaments, strained muscles, muscle spasm, facet joint or disc irritation, but the origin is mechanical and practically unidentifiable.
Many lifestyle factors can increase the risk of Non-Specific Low Back Pain such as Obesity, Occupation (manual job, office job), Stress, and Pregnancy to name a few.
Years ago GP’s used to prescribe bed rest when suffering with Low Back Pain in fact bed rest does not promote recovery, and the adverse effects of bed rest include joint stiffness, loss of bone density and a decrease in general health, now the common theme is to keep moving as much as possible and to strengthen and mobilise the back.
Being physically inactive is associated with worse low back pain outcomes than remaining physically active, including delayed recovery higher risk of chronicity and longer time spent off work. Various published guidelines recommend that acute low back pain patients stay active.
If Low Back Pain is affecting your quality of life, it’s important to seek out a health professional and once given the all clear to exercise, to start exercising with a qualified Personal Trainer who should carry out a Postural Assessment before commencing with you on structured progressive exercise programme to help strengthen, stabilise and mobilise the back and core with the purpose of reducing or even eliminating the pain.
Matt Hart
Level 4 Personal Trainer specialising in Physical Activity and Lifestyle Strategies for Managing Low Back Pain
Ref:
Palmer et al, 2000
Burton et al, 2006
Dionne, 1999
Hurwitz et al, 2005
Waddell et al, 1997, Hagen et al, 2004
Van Tulder et al, 2006