A full assessment by a physiotherapist is needed to determine the cause of and best treatment for low back pain. However, most low back pain is due to poor sitting posture and lifestyle issues. Sitting for long periods, frequent bending and not enough general exercise can be enough to cause low back pain. This may eventually cause a lumbar disc to protrude and in extreme cases may put pressure onto the nerves as they leave the spine causing leg pain, numbness, a sensation of pins and needles, and weakness in the legs. Physiotherapy can help even in these situations, but it is best to get advice and treatment quickly to help prevent this happening in the first place.
Another common cause of low back pain, especially after abdominal surgery and in postnatal women, is poor strength in spinal and abdominal core muscles. The deepest muscles of the abdomen and spine, the transversus abdominis and multifidus respectively, are responsible for creating a stable foundation on which the other muscles of the trunk create movement. If the foundation is not stable, the joints of the spine and pelvis can become painful. This is an area I conducted research into to obtain a master’s degree in physical therapy. By increasing awareness and activation of the transversus abdominis and multifidus with individual tuition from a physiotherapist followed by a carefully controlled progression of exercises, the core’s stability can be improved and pain resolved, even after years of problems. If you are having low back pain, book an appointment with e-physiotherapy Edinburgh.
