What causes low back pain?

Even if you wonder what causes low back pain, you will certainly know that it is a common and debilitating condition which massage therapists treat every day. While low back pain is one of the most prevalent afflictions in our society, the causes are varied, and treatment approach will vary based not only on the symptoms, but also the root cause of the problem.

"Back strain" appears to be the most common cause of low back pain, and is quite a generic term. There are other causes of low back pain, and it is very important to identify the cause and contributing factors to create a successful treatment plan.

I have narrowed down the causes for low back pain into 4 broad categories which include several different conditions.

1. Low back pain cause - Muscle strain

Also referred to as a "pulled muscle", this happens when muscles are overused, weak or fatigued. Muscles can also be torn from an injury, and of course, the more serious the damage, the longer it will take to heal.

Pain can also be caused by an imbalance of muscle development, or a lack of "extensibility" of the muscles. This is very easy to see, for example, in athletes who may overuse and overdevelop one muscle group - this muscle imbalance is stressful for the body and may cause pain and spasm in the opposing muscle group as the body tries to maintain homeostasis. This lack of balance can lead to "mechanical dysfunction" of the joints of the back (see below).

Fortunately, this is the easiest and most common type of low back pain treated by massage therapists, and there are usually several things a client can do at home to help the condition resolve.

2. Low back pain cause - Joint and bone dysfunction

This type of back pain is often referred to as "mechanical back pain" or "mechanical dysfunction" when referring specifically to the joints. What this means is that a joint is not able to move as it is meant to, either from injury to the bone or joint, or hypertonicity of the surrounding muscles. Unfortunately, this can lead to several other issues and can be a self-perpetuating cycle if left untreated, often causing seemingly unrelated problems.

Of course, bones and joints can also be affected by fractures, breaks, arthritis and a multitude of other conditions which is well beyond the scope of massage therapy to diagnose. Massage therapy can, however, be used to alleviate symptoms and assist in recovery.

3. Low back pain cause - neurological

To learn about more of the causes of low back pain, please stay tuned for further updates.

Massage Therapy is a great adjunct to other treatments and therapies, but is not the only way to lose the back pain - usually a combination of approaches works the best.

Massage Therapy is a great adjunct to other treatments and therapies, but is not the only way to lose the back pain - usually a combination of treatment approaches, home care and remedial exercise works the best.