Osteopathy for low back pain

INTRODUCTION

Are you tired of dealing with persistent low back pain? If you’re wondering about osteopathy for low back pain, or what does an osteopath do for back pain, then you’re in the right place. In this blog, we’ll also explore some common causes of low back pain and stiffness and how you can help yourself. 

OSTEOPATHY FOR LOW BACK PAIN

Osteopathy for low back pain is one of the commonest reasons why people seek osteopathic treatment. Most importantly, you need to know what structure in your back is causing the pain. Is it a spinal joint, is it a muscle or group of muscles, or both? Is it the disc or nerve or ligament? Your osteopath should tell you.

Knowing the cause is so important for reassurance and understanding. Then together you can tackle the root causes and not just the pain itself.

60% of the adult population will have low back pain at some point in their lifetime, according to NICE. Many people use osteopathy for lower back pain. Doctors call this type of pain, “mechanical low back pain”. This means the mechanics or moving parts of your back are causing your pain. So, it could be your muscles, joints or irritated nerves.  

For more understanding and to help you decide, do read my blog, “Why see an osteopath?”.

CAUSES OF LOW BACK PAIN AND STIFfNESS

Here are three common reasons why we get mechanical low back pain.

#1 Compression

Imagine carrying a rucksack on your back all day, every day. It would be exhausting. But it’s also very compressing for your joints and discs. And it’s the same with long hours of sitting and standing – it literally squashes the juice out of your discs and they lose their ability to shock absorb for you.

#2 You’ve lost fitness (deconditioning)

Let’s face it, our muscles get weaker as we age. So, naturally, if you can have a sensible daily routine to keep your back and core abdominal muscles strong, they will support the structures of the low back and reduce the likelihood of strain. You can read my blog about aches and pains as we get older.

#3 Faulty mechanics

If we use our body unevenly, or if we have an old unresolved injury, especially in our legs or feet, it can make our pelvis unbalanced. A bit like one table leg being shorter than the other, making the table wobble and the cutlery slide to the lower side. Likewise, imbalances between our dominant leg and a weaker non-dominant leg can set up strain patterns that unbalance the pelvis. This makes the mobile spinal joints take up the strain. Eventually, this leads to wear and tear on joints at the base of the spine, leading to lower back pain.

Take a look at this diagram and see what type of pain you get and what the problem could be.

IS OSTEOPATHY EFFECTIVE FOR LOW BACK PAIN?

Yes, it is. According to the paper, “Effectiveness of osteopathic interventions in chronic non-specific low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis” 2020 published in Complementary Therapies In Medicine, the findings stated that, “Osteopathy revealed to be more effective than control interventions in pain reduction and improving functional status in non-specific chronic low back pain.

HOW CAN YOU HELP YOURSELF?

Hopefully, you have been able to identify where some of your low back pain might be coming from. Now you’re in a much better position to know what to do to help yourself.

#1 Muscle pain

For example, muscle pain that is dull and achy may respond really well to warmth from a hot water bottle.

It may also feel looser and less achy when you move and stretch your muscles by reaching down to the floor, either sitting or standing.

A massage often really helps muscles relax too.

#2 Joint pain

Again, moving the joints often relieves the pain. Joints don’t like being squashed out of alignment by poor posture or excess weight.

Lying on your back on the floor with your calves resting on the seat of a kitchen chair is very relieving – taking the compression and load off your joints.

A gentle twist exercise is also very helpful to get the joints moving thereafter.

#3 Nerve pain

Nerve pain in the low back typically comes from pressure on the nerve, perhaps from localised swelling if you strain your back or as the end result of spinal disc degeneration. Either way, you need to decompress your back to take the pressure off the nerve and reduce the inflammation. For this type of problem, expert advice is recommended.