SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH LOW BACK PAIN
Low back pain is one of the most common problem in our society. Almost every person will have at least one episode of low back pain at some time in his or her life.
Back pain ranges from

mild pain/ache (with activities) to extreme pain (that cannot seem to find a comfortable position to be in)

sharp catching pain to dull ringing ache

centralized pain at the lower back to radiating pain down legs

numbness, pins and needles down the legs.

CAUSES OF LOW BACK PAIN:
With the weight of the upper body resting on the lower back, there are much stress and strain applied to these structures. Back pain may result from abnormalities in the soft tissues - the muscles, ligaments, and nerves as well as in bones and joints of the spine.
Motor vehicle and sporting accidents are common causes too, causing increased strain and tear to the supporting structures of the lower back.
Treatment of your back pain is dependent on the cause of pain. A thorough physiotherapy assessment aids us to identify the cause of the back pain.
The common causes of back pain are:
With the weight of the upper body resting on the lower back, there are much stress and strain applied to these structures. Back pain may result from abnormalities in the soft tissues - the muscles, ligaments, and nerves as well as in bones and joints of the spine. Motor vehicle and sporting accidents are common causes too, causing increased strain and tear to the supporting structures of the lower back.

Treatment of your back pain is dependent on the cause of which. A thorough physiotherapy assessment aids us to identify the cause of the pain. The common causes are:

Poor Posture - Poor posture stresses your spine. Ligaments are over-stretched, muscles tire and joints and nerves are put under pressure. Long hours of sitting, strenuous lifting techniques and poor mattress can all contribute or aggravate the back pain.

Muscle Strains - Minor back muscle strains quickly improve on their own but more severe strains will need physiotherapy treatment to relieve pain and promote healing.

Ligament Strains - Stretching ligaments too far or too quickly makes them tear and bleed into surrounding tissues, causing swelling and pain.

Disc problems - Discs are anchored to the vertebrae above and below, so they cannot 'slip' out of place. They can wear down with age, but most disc problems arise from injury. Discs can bulge (prolapse) or herniated, pressing on the spinal nerves/ spinal cord, causing pain and numbness down legs, pins and needles as well as legs weakness.

Sciatica - The sciatic nerve run from the lower back, through the buttocks and down the back of your legs. Irritation anywhere along this pathway will cause pain in the back and legs.

Arthritis - Vertebral and facet joints can be affected by arthritis, causing degeneration and inflammation within the joint and the growth of bony spurs on the edges of the vertebrae.

Muscle Weakness- Recent research has shown that weakness of the deep abdominal muscles can contribute to increased strain on the lower back.

TREATMENT OPTIONS:
The treatment of your back pain depends entirely on the cause of the problem. Therefore, it is important to understand the cause of your symptoms before starting a treatment program.
If you are unsure of your diagnosis, or the severity of your condition, you should seek medical advice before beginning any treatment of your back pain.
Medical help: Your doctor may prescribe some anti-inflammatories and pain –killers. Sometimes with an acute pain, injections of steroids (cortisone) are given.
Physiotherapy: A physiotherapist will make a detailed assessment of your condition and put together a treatment program for your specific problems. Your physiotherapy treatment will include:

Spinal Decompression therapy: is a specialised treatment targeting disc herniation or prolapsed disc- utilizing the DOC/DTS Systems (USA) to create negative intra-discal pressure and relieve the symptoms of herniation.

Mobilisation & manual therapy: Significant effect to restore restricted mobility between the spinal vertebrae. This aids to reduce pain, muscle spasm and stiffness

Laser: This low-level laser therapy absorbed by the photo-sensitive body tissues aids in pain management and helps with wound healing.

Interferential therapy: A medium frequency electrical current that stimulates the peripheral sensory and muscle nerve fibres, to reduce pain and inflammation

Ultrasound: The application of ultrasonic waves causing improved cell metabolism and cell membrane permeability, thereby enhancing tissue healing

Postural and Ergonomics Advice: This helps to increase one’s postural awareness and reduce strain on the back. With improved ergonomics at their workstation, the likelihood of straining their back is reduced too

Core Stabilization program (SCORES): Though the back pain may usually go away in 4 to 6 weeks, the deep stabilizing muscles along the spinal vertebrae remains impaired. Clinical research has shown that after back pain, these deep muscles are not activated as effectively and the activity of the superficial muscles is often increased. This diminishes the stability between the vertebrae and predisposes re-injury of the back. Core Stabilization involves activating the deep lumbar and abdominal muscles. These exercises are taught progressively as back pain improves. With better core stability, recurrence of back pain is reduced. Exercises with the use of biofeedback stabilizers and exercise ball assist the effective activation of these muscles. Please see our SCORES brochure for more information on this

USEFUL ADVICE TO CONTROL AND PREVENT BACK PAIN
Work
Avoid sitting for long periods. Frequently stand and have a short walk around.
Use of Back Roll and foot stool
Helps to reduce the stress and strain on the lower back during sitting.
Practice correct lifting techniques
Keep your back straight and bending at your knees. Rather than working on an outstretched position, keep your task close to the body.
Maintain a healthy weight
This will help to reduce the impact on the lower back.
Keep a correct posture
while Sitting, standing, and sleeping

Experienced physiotherapists in Singapore, with over 18 years of experience, help you to get relief from pain/weakness quickly and easily. You can book an appointment to see our Senior Physiotherapist. We are located right in the heart of Singapore, at Orchard, and are available Mondays through Saturday.