Lower Back Pain is a complicated and often controversial topic that has sparked many heated debates.   Who do I see?   What do I take ?   Who’s diagnosis is correct ? Why are there so many different opinions ?   Why is it so common ?   Why do Practitioners differ in advice (sometimes completely opposite).

The basis of most of these disagreements arise for several reasons

• Different theories in knowledge (i.e. traditional medical training Vs alternative training)
• Different ideas at the time of training (bed rest for LBP in the 60’s, active mobilisation currently)
• The spine and nervous system are complex with many potential causes for LBP, some of which are difficult to distinguish from one another.

The lower back can be a difficult area to treat.

Mostly Physiotherapists will take a simple approach and encourage basic active rehabilitation in the first instance.

If this does not achieve the results they and you are expecting in a reasonable time frame then rehabilitation can become quite complicated and focused on smaller details (i.e. learning to isolate single muscles at a time, retraining posture, core stabilising, pain management techniques, TENS)

For more information on the basics please visit the Lower Back Pain link under patient information.