Lower back pain can be caused by a vertebra being out of alinement with other vertebrae, resulting in the loss of mobility. Osteopathy considers why this injury has occurred and what may help in diminishing pain and improving movement, and in the case of an athlete, better performance.

Lower back pain may be treated and prevented by non-surgical treatment and efforts on the patient’s part to exercise to the correct level. The Osteopath may recommend modifications to the patient’s exercise plan and the activities undertaken.

An adjustment approach is generally referred to as “spinal manipulation”, and may also be called “the diversified technique” or “the high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) thrust”. The Osteopath will explain this treatment to the patient prior to carrying it out.

Consistent among all guidelines of lower back pain treatment is the prevention of long lasting recurrent pain. The use of active care, which is patient driven, is emphasized to accomplish this.

An early treatment exercise plan is recommended as a means of self-care and an aid to full and long lasting recovery.

 

What causes Lower Back Pain

 

Lower back pain is the most common type of back pain with symptoms such as stiffness, pain and soreness.

There are a number of causes that lead to lower back pain for example:

• muscle strain tear, (tear or stretching in a tendon or muscle)
• sprains and spasms,
• sports injuries (including overuse and over training),
• discs alignment,
• spine/vertebral fractures,
• problems between the vertebrae,
• spinal cord and nerve injury,
• problems with internal organs in the vicinity of the pelvis and abdomen,
• standing or sitting for long periods,
• incorrectly lifting heavy objects,
• bending awkwardly,
• pregnancy,
• a disc in the spine pressing on a nerve,
• swelling of the joints in the spine.

Rare cases of lower back pain are:

• cancer-related problems,
• spine/vertebral fractures,
• an infection,
• compression of the nerves in the lower back.

 

Osteopathic Treatments that can Assist Lower Back Pain

 

An Osteopath is able to assist with the relief of pain to the lower back in a number of ways, some of which may be as simple as general advice on lifting and carrying, maintaining a good posture, exercising, identifying and strengthening weaknesses, through to manual therapy and manipulation (moving and applying pressure to muscles and joints around the spine).

Education and advices may be all that is required, however this would be a judgement made between the patient and the Osteopath following an understanding of habits and lifestyle of the patient.

The Osteopath may provide advice on what regular and appropriate exercises are performed, he/she may provide specific advice on the way daily tasks are undertaken and the importance of maintaining the desired body weight. The Osteopath may also suggest specific nutritional intake known to aid bones and muscle nourishment. The Osteopath may also provide recovery advice on the benefits of stretching, and the utilising of compresses and strappings to be applied to the area of the damaged tissue.

The Osteopath may suggest that a manual approach may be the most satisfactory of treatments. This would be the manipulation and movement of soft tissue and joints to relieve pain and stiffness and to decrease tension and to improve blood circulation. This manual therapy would involve the hands manipulating and massaging the joints and surrounding tissue

There are a number of massage and manipulation techniques that could be utilised on their own or in conjunction with one another. The Osteopath will discuss the available options with the patient prior to treatment. In general the available techniques are:

• Manipulation of the spine. This is when the Osteopath makes a quick thrusting action at a selected point of your spine,
• Massage of the back. This is when your osteopath applies pressure to the soft tissues. It aims to reduce tension in your back and therefore relieving the pain,
• Functional technique. This technique involves slow, small controlled movements to allow the Osteopath a sense of how well or how stiffly an area is moving. With this technique, your Osteopath will gently move your joints into various positions,
• Lymphatic Pump is a technique to assist with the movement of fluid around the body by correcting any blockages,
• Myofascial Release Therapy is a deep massage technique. With this technique the aim is to release tension and tightness in your muscles.

FAQs:

• Can osteopathy help trapped nerve?

The phrase “trapped nerve” is a general term that can often be misleading. The use of the wording “compressed” or “impingement/impaction” is more accurate. This compression or impingement causes swelling around the nerve or tension in the muscles.

 

If a nerve is involved in causing pain to the lower back, there will also be a sense of tingling, numbness or weakness in the legs or feet.

 

Treatment can reduce the tension and swelling in the muscle by massaging the area around the compressed nerve. It should be noted that by removing the cause that initially lead to the compressed nerve pain will not necessarily result in a swift recovery.