If you are suffering from low back pain, you’re not alone. 39% of U.S. adults said they experienced back pain in the past three months. That was more than any other region of the body.
Our bodies are phenomenal — so phenomenal that it can often heal itself. By listening to, learning, and understanding our bodies, we can help guide them towards that path of healing.
Back pain is very common, and let’s be real — no one wants to deal with it. And you don’t have to.
Low back pain appears in two forms: acute and chronic. Acute back pain is short-term and usually heals within a few days to weeks. If you were hitting the weights too hard at the gym, for example, this could cause acute pain. Chronic back pain, however, is pain that persists for three months or longer.
While chronic pain is a good reason to seek help from a chiropractor, it’s not the only one. A visit to the chiropractor helps relieve pain and tension, but it can also reduce inflammation, improve sleep, and boost athletic performance.
When pain is the case, it is necessary to find a solution as soon as possible. Let’s uncover some common reasons for low back pain and then work our way towards healing.
What causes low back pain?
There is no “one and done” answer when it comes to back pain. Moreso, there are a lot of factors that can increase the risk. Are you getting older? The risk for low back pain increases. Have you gained weight or started a job that requires heavy lifting? The risk continues to increase. Contributing factors also include genetics, fitness level, mental health, and even smoking.
What causes low back pain? The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) outlines the causes for low back pain as:
Congenital Conditions
Injuries
Degenerative Problems
Nerve and Spinal Cord Problems
Non-Spine Sources
Congenital Conditions
Congenital conditions are those that are present from birth. Two examples that can cause back pain are skeletal irregularities and spina bifida. Spina bifida occurs when the spine and spinal cord do not completely develop. While this is rare, skeletal irregularities such as scoliosis are common and can cause low back pain as well.
Injuries
You were expecting this. We all were. Injuries are a major cause of lower back pain. Some injuries come in the form of spasms, sprains, or strains. Muscle spasms are quick to pass, but strains (overstretched or torn muscles or tendons) or sprains (injury to a ligament) are more severe and take more time to heal. Traumatic injuries can lead to more severe cases of low back pain that result from injuries like a herniated disc.
Degenerative Problems
Gradual deterioration characterizes degenerative problems. An example of this is osteoarthritis (OA). The most common form of arthritis, it affects the hand, spine, knees, and hips. It happens after the gradual deterioration of the protective cartilage that surrounds the ends of the bones. OA in the spine can cause back pain, stiffness, tenderness, and more.
Nerve and Spinal Cord Problems
Sciatica is one example of a nerve and spinal cord problem that can cause back pain. Compression of the sciatic nerve leads to the condition. It causes pain to form in the lower back where it travels down the back of the hips and into the leg. While it can present as a mild ache, it also appears as a sharp, burning pain — neither of which are pleasant.
Non-Spine Sources
Surprisingly, the spine is not always the cause of low back pain. Emotional strains, in the form of stress or anxiety, can cause muscle tension and lead to back pain. Alternatively, fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that can cause lower back pain due to how it affects muscle and soft tissue. Alternatively, pregnancy is an example of a temporary condition that causes low back pain.
Back pain is not a joke. When left untreated, it can become progressively worse. That’s bad for both your body and your mind. Once you’ve identified lower back pain, it’s time to get treated.
Low Back Pain Exercises and Stretches
Low back pain should only be treated with prolonged rest and no exercise. This is a popular myth. Depending on the injury, gentle exercise and stretching can be very beneficial to healing.
Exercises and stretches for low back pain include:
Cat Cow
Child’s Pose
Cobra Pose
Cat Cow
The Cat Cow is a popular stretch that targets the spine through flexion and extension. As you inhale, tilt your pelvis back to create the cow pose. When you exhale, tuck your tailbone for the cat pose, as seen in the image above.
Child’s Pose
Child’s Pose not only stretches the back, but it also targets the hips, thighs, and ankles. Knees should be spread slightly wider than shoulder width. Stretch your arms forward to allow your belly to rest between your thighs while resting your forehead on the floor.
Cobra Pose
The Cobra Pose targets the back and abdominals. This stretch requires you to lie flat on your front. Keeping the lower half of the body against the floor, use your arms to lift your chest. Start this stretch while keeping the arms bent. As you familiarize yourself with this stretch, you might excel to a full Cobra pose which is when you’re able to fully extend your arms.
Different exercises and stretches can help strengthen the back and stretch the muscles to alleviate pain and tension. Now, don’t get crazy with your movements. Low back pain exercises and stretches are necessary tools for treatment, but treatment should come from a licensed professional.
Treatment for Low Back Pain in Marietta
Marietta is one of Atlanta’s largest suburbs. With millions of adults searching for treatment for lower back pain, you could be in for a lengthy search if you hadn’t landed on this page. Treatment for low back pain often starts with self-treatment in less-serious cases. Immediately following the onset of pain, some might consider trying pain relievers, avoiding heavy physical activities, and resting. Here’s what you need to monitor. If the pain persists for days, returns, or spreads to other regions, it is time to consult a healthcare professional.
Chiropractic Care for Low Back Pain in Marietta
Hall Way of Healing (HWOH) is the door to finding the best chiropractic care for low back pain in Marietta. As a Chiropractor and Reiki practitioner, we focus on the body as a whole. It is more than just back pain. Our bodies are complex, and healing the body takes place inside and out.
Chiropractic care helps realign the spine and allows the body to function as it should. Back pain can negatively affect your quality of life, and there’s no reason to let pain and discomfort prevent you from both surviving and thriving. Chiropractic care enables you to put your body and then your mind at ease, and Hall Way of Healing is the first step to getting there.