Common Low Back Conditions
There are many conditions that can be covered under the umbrella of low back pain, but for the sake of this blog, we will be diving into the most seen in our office.
The keys of prevention of low back pain are as follows:
· Understand your symptoms and risk factors
· Body Preparation and Positioning
· Proper Activities of Daily Living
· Corrective Exercises
· Treatment Considerations
In this article we will be discussing the most common low back conditions so that you can understand your symptoms and risk factors. Stay tuned as we cover the next four bullet points.
Lumbar Strains and Sprains
A lumbar strain is when an injury occurs to the muscles of the low back. A sprain, on the other hand, is an injury to the ligaments or joints; both, however, have similar pain and symptom patterns. When these muscles or ligaments become injured, it can lead to dysfunctional movements, and cause instability in the spine.
Patients suffering from this diagnosis often have pain when attempting to walk, sit, exercise and can even occur during sleep.
The main physical causes of this condition are:
· Overexertion
· Falls
· Poor movement mechanics
· Poor posture
· Heavy lifting
However, with proper education, you can protect yourself from many of these causes. The primary sufferers of this condition, especially chronic cases, often are in poor physical condition with weak stabilizing muscles. A co-morbid factor of this condition is often a desk job that involves sitting for most of the day. This type of patient usually has poor sitting posture, which can lead to a weakening of your spinal erectors and destabilize the spine, contributing to the condition. The importance of a strong core and training your spinal muscles cannot be overstated.
In cases where the injury stems from a problem related to overuse, poor posture or improper exercise, there are steps that can be taken to help avoid these injuries from happening. Proper instruction about your postural habits can reduce the detrimental effects of sitting on the spine, as well as education about correct lifting form can reduce these episodes of low back pain and help you build a healthy spine.
Lumbar Stenosis
This condition occurs when there is a narrowing of the spinal canal in the lumbar vertebrae (low back). Often this results in compression of the spinal cord, which can lead to pain, numbness, discomfort and radiating symptoms. What the mechanism of this is occurring is usually caused by the degenerative changes of aging. However, there are other causes.
The main physical causes of this condition are:
· Degeneration of the lumbar spine
· Lumbar disc herniation putting pressure on the spinal cord
· Osteoporosis
· Dwarfism (achondroplasia)
· Tumor
Degeneration of the spinal column is inevitable with aging and may reflect normal changes in an aging spine. It does not necessarily always result in lumbar stenosis but is often the most common cause.
While it is difficult or impossible to combat normal aging of the spine, there are some habits and tips you can use to reduce this condition related to the other causes. Reduce your chances of a lumbar disc herniation by learning proper bending and lifting biomechanics by utilizing your lifting power from your legs and not your back. As far as osteoporosis goes, make sure you are meeting your recommended calcium intake as well as incorporating weight bearing activities into your exercise routine (lifting weights). Post-menopausal women tend to be more susceptible to this condition and should ensure they are doing everything they can to prevent osteoporosis.