Keyword(s): cause of low back pain
Meta description: Low back is a big issue in Southeast Houston, Friendswood, Clear Lake, League City, and Pearland areas. In this new blog, we get to the bottom of a common question, what causes low back pain?
Bottom Line:
Low back pain is the number one reason people worldwide visit their doctor, miss work, and stop working out.
If you've dealt with it in the past (or maybe even right now), you know back pain can change your life in an instant.
Not being able to enjoy hobbies, hanging out with your family, difficulty in your ability to work, and stress and anxiety that you may never get "back to normal" are all normal when you're experiencing a bout of back pain.
So why do so many people struggle with back pain?
In many cases, your daily habits are a big contributor to your back pain. I've done a video on the I3 model previously and I encourage you to go take a look. You need to move often, but moving well takes priority.
Why it Matters:
Repetitive stress, poor movement habits, nagging injuries, a diet filled with inflammatory foods, a missing recovery plan, and a lack of daily exercise and movement can contribute to an increased likelihood of back pain.
Here are the three most common causes of back pain:
Sprain/Strain Injuries: Repetitive stress can create inflammation and lead to sprains or strains. Again you need to move cleanly to reduce this kind of stress that adds up.
Spinal Disc Issues: Disc bulges and herniations can press on your spinal nerves, leading to back pain that travels to other parts of the body. Disc injuries can be acute in nature, but doesn't mean you have to suffer in pain and can't return to a great quality of life. If you have the right plan in place.
Arthritis: As you get older, your body will naturally go through some degenerative changes, and if your spinal joints become inflamed, you may notice some pain. This is normal wear and tear and doesn't mean it's the end of the world. Don't let some doctor scare you unnecessarily about your activity levels and the quality of your life.
Next Steps:
For over 80% of us, back pain will be something we deal with at some point in our lives.
While it may feel like you'll never get back to your old self, chances are you will!
An overwhelming majority of people recover from back pain naturally or with a little additional help. I help people identify gaps in their recovery every day and help them implement new strategies and to become more resilient.
Remember, even if you typically recover by taking it easy for a few days, it's still a smart decision to look at your recovery to discover the specific steps you can take to reduce your individual chances of experiencing back pain in the future.
Science Source(s):
Back Pain Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic. 2020.