Low back pain

Low back pain is one of the most common health problems worldwide. It is among the top 10 conditions that account for the highest number of Disability Adjusted Life Years (essentially years lost in dealing with a condition). 

What that means is, low back pain is the leading cause of activity limitation and work absence globally, being of great economic and social cost. 

• 90% of people come to the chiropractor or physio for lower back pain 

• 80% of people will experience low back pain in their lifetime 

• Low back pain is one of the most common reason missed for work 

• Low back pain affects people of all ages and is the 3rd most common reason for medical consultation 

• 60% of low back pain reoccurs 

Causes: 

• 90% of low back pain is mechanical / non-specific. This mechanical pain may be:

  • Traumatic, which is post injury, 

  • Postural strain - what posture or position you spend the majority of your time in

  • Lumbar sprain or strain, overuse or overstretch injury to the components of the low back 

  • The good news is that all of these causes are reversible, adaptable and your body has the ability to heal from them. The main problem with low back pain after the healing process is to prevent reoccurance, which may be difficult as after injury as it is hard to properly rest the injured structures, being so vital to human movement. 

  • So if the vast majority of low back pain is caused by mechanical influences, one of the primary focuses after care is to change these stressful mechanics and strengthen the body to be able to cope with these loads without collapsing.