EXPERTISE
What to know about low back pain
Low back pain is extremely common, and it can stem from a wide range of causes—some mechanical, some structural, and others systemic.
Low back pain causes
Most low back pain is caused by mechanical or musculoskeletal issues, such as:
- Muscle or ligament strain
- Poor posture
- Overuse or repetitive stress
- Spasms or tight muscles
- Structural spine issues
- Disc herniation (slipped or bulging disc)
- Degenerative disc disease
Other causes can be chronic or recurrent pain syndromes, psychological or lifestyle factors such as stress and anxiety, and low physical activity levels.
Low back pain treatments
After an initial assessment, patients suffering from low back pain often receive a mix of education and physical therapy.
Physical therapies for low back pain can include:
- Stretching
- Strengthening
- Core muscle development
- Glutes and hip stabilizers
- Back extensors
- Aerobic conditioning
- Spinal mobilization/manipulation
- Soft tissue mobilization (e.g., massage)
- Trigger point therapy
- Joint mobilization (especially sacroiliac and lumbar joints)
- Heat or cold therapy
- Electrical stimulation (TENS)
