Low back pain is the 2nd most common reason people seek medical advice. And 1 in 3 people will suffer from some form of back pain in their lifetime. That is a lot of people!
Simple strategies to prevent and treat low back pain
Know Which Injuries You Are Susceptible To
Do you sit all day? Stand? Lift? Knowing what tissues and structures you could injure is the first step in preventing them.
Activate and strengthen core muscles to support the lumbar spine, pelvis and stability. Include exercises like planks, bridges, single leg lifts, and many others. If you're not sure how to activate the core muscles get some advice from a medical professional.
Okay, so you hurt yourself. Darn. First and foremost the important step is finding out what the nature of the injury is. Muscle? Joint? Ligament? Tendon? Imaging such as MRI, ultrasound or X-ray can be beneficial but nothing beats a thorough physical assessment.
Have you completed conservative treatment and still have pain? Acute injuries should resolve within 2-3 months if given the proper treatment. If your pain continues into a chronic issue maybe the underlying cause hasn't been addressed or there are physical factors that need to be considered. Consider therapies such as prolotherapy or PRP for issues that stem from instability. It is also important to consider inflammatory or nutrient deficiencies that can contribute to pain.
Have more questions? Low back pain can be a complicated condition to treat and doesn't get fixed overnight. Book a consultation to see how I could help.
Yours in health,
Dr. Kristy Gottselig
