Back Pain
Back pain affects 8 out of 10 people during their lives.1 Because the lower back supports much of the body’s weight, it is subject to the most mechanical stress, which often leads to injury.
Common causes
Back pain often results from routine activities like gardening, housework, reaching for an object, or even coughing. The most common causes of back pain include:
- Poor posture
- Muscle strains
- Ligament sprains
- Disk problems
- Sciatica
- Arthritis
- Muscle weakness
- Stress
Pregnancy also predisposes women to lower back pain. Fifty percent of pregnant women experience lower back pain that not only compromises their ability to work but also interferes with daily activities. Lower back pain can continue after childbirth with the strain of picking up a child.
Risk factors
Certain factors can increase a person’s risk of having back pain. These factors include:
- Increasing age
- Poor physical fitness
- Excess weight
- Disease
- Poor posture
- Improper body mechanics
SSPT’s approach to treating back pain
Therapy treatment can provide relief for people suffering from both acute and chronic back pain. Our therapists assess the cause and type of pain in order to determine the most effective treatment. In addition to treatment, our therapists encourage you to manage your back pain by prescribing specific exercises that you can perform on your own. Your therapy for back pain may include:
- Advice about early activity
- Joint and soft tissue mobilization
- Stabilization exercises
- Stretching exercises
- Ergonomic advice
- Postural advice
1National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Handout on Health: Back Pain. NIH Publication No. 05-5282. September 2005.
