How common is back pain?

Back pain and especially low back pain is a very common problem these days. Research has shown that 60% of the UK population will suffer with back pain at some point in their lifetime and statistics suggest that  30,000 people are consulting with their local Osteopaths on a daily basis. That’s nearly 7 million consultations a year.

Is back pain a good thing?

Well of course it’s not! It might sound strange but sometimes “pain” is our friend. It might not feel nice but pain is the red light coming on warning us that something is wrong and to go seek immediate advice to get it checked out! Without a pain response in our bodies  your back pain might escalate into a widespread problem succumbing.

Why do I get back pain?

There are a plethora of reasons why we get back pain ranging from a sedentary lifestyle to pregnancy. It’s the “why” in that question that we are most interested in. That is why a thorough case history looking at your past medical history and specifically any previous trauma regardless of how irrelevant you think it might be is important to us. Past trauma is the Number 1 indicator as to why a back problem may appear. With that information we can then use a selective functional movement assessment (SFMA) and other measurements to identify the source of the back pain but more importantly the cause and any possible complications involved that might prevent a full recovery.

MCPP Osteopaths approach to treating lower back pain

Once we know your personal situation, specific goals and current functionality we are in a very good place to start your treatment and create a rehabilitation/exercise program that is bespoke to you. We find at our clinic  that a combination of active release technique, medical acupuncture, rock tape and selective exercises based on your movement impairments helps us achieve very quick results for your back pain.

What are the best exercises for back pain?

There are some generic exercises that might help when considering treating low back pain but to figure out what might be deemed the best  exercise it’s vital to assess the patient first. There are many variables that determine what exercises should be prescribed. It has to be patient focused to get the best result. The reason for this is that back pain is a very complex condition and more than just some muscle stiffness or weakness.  The back is commonly the source of the problem but it’s very rarely the cause. So to formulate a “best approach” exercise program its extremely important to assess a persons movement patterns.

10 top tips for back care and ideas to relieve back pain:

1. Keep moving and stretching
2. Take regular exercise including yoga for mobility and pilates for core stability
3. Take frequent breaks between repetitive tasks and vary the rhythm
4. Seek professional advice on workstation ergonomics
5. Pace yourself when the work is heavy e.g. gardening
6. Adjust car seats on long journeys and have regular breaks and stretch
7. Drink plenty of water 2.5 litres daily for men and 1.75 litres daily for women
8. Take natural anti-inflammatories such as omega oils and curcumin
9. Is your bed the right bed or is it getting old?
10. Seek osteopathic advice earlier rather than later

“Mario has helped me realign my back from an existing injury. As a busy fitness professional his session and understanding of my body has enabled me to work to my maximal potential. I recommend Mario to all my clients as I trust his judgement”.