Pearl Physiotherapy Center

Back Pain

Common back injuries treated by Pearl Physiotherapy Center

Low back pain is the most common condition seen by musculoskeletal physiotherapists. Low back pain is the single leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the Global Burden of Disease 2010. Research estimates that at least 80% of the population will experience back pain at some point in their lives.

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Types Of Pains and Causes

Mechanical or Non-specific Low Back Pain

This type of injury is most common in sufferers with pain relating from non-specific factors such as increased tension, stress, muscle restrictions and joint stiffness. Typically, 90% of patients with acute, mechanical non-specific back pain make a full recovery within 8 weeks.

Disc Related Low Back Pain

Resulting from a herniated disc causing pressure on adjacent nerves. This can lead to back and/or leg pain. The protruding disc material from the centre of the disc (the nucleus), causes pain and irritation the nerves close to the disc. This type of pain leads to leg pain and is called radicular pain.

Arthritic Facet Joint Pain

Pain resulting from the vertebral joints in the lower back responsible for movements in the spine, these joints are called facet joints and can be prone to arthritis and degenerative changes in the same way as other joints in the body such as a knee or hip joint.

Stenotic Back Pain

Degenerative changes in the discs, facet joints and ligaments can lead to a narrowing of the spinal column causing spinal stenosis. Stenosis which comes from the Greek word ‘choking’ causes a choking and narrowing effect of the lumbar spinal nerves. This often leads to pain in both legs or buttocks when walking due to the compression being greater on ambulation. This can severely impact a person’s quality of life, limiting mobility to short distances and can sometimes require surgery.

Inflammatory Back Pain

This relates to an inflammatory condition of the spine, the most common being ankylosing spondylitis. Early diagnosis of this type of back pain is crucial for effective management and will include physiotherapy with appropriate medication prescribed by a GP or rheumatologist.