Back pain is a common medical condition that presents itself in a myriad of different ways, from general dull pain across the back to sharp pain in localised areas. The causes of back pain are as numerous as the types of back pain experienced by patients including but not limited to:

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• An injury from physical activity or falling

• Being in a car accident

• Age-related changes in the spine

• Medical conditions or disorders

A 2014 study published on the 24th of March 2014 in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, which aimed to determine the level of disability caused by lower back pain, found that nearly 1 in 10 people worldwide suffer from lower back pain. Ahead of over 300 other conditions, lower back pain in now the leading cause of disability worldwide according to this research making it a substantial issue that affects millions of people and their daily lives.

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Symptoms

There are several ways that back pain can present itself with various combinations of the type of pain, its location, and possibly even referred pain in other parts of the body such as the buttocks, legs or abdomen.

Back pain can be categorised by the region of the pain across the four main areas of the back:

• Cervical (or neck)

• Thoracic (upper back)

• Middle back

• Lumbar (or lower back)

It can also present itself in the following different ways:

• Dull and constant pain

• Sharp and sudden pain

• Localised to a specific region

• Spread across your back

• Short term pain (last only a few days)

• Chronic (has persisted for day or weeks)

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Treatment

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As with many conditions and ailments, prevention is the best cure as they say. Maintaining a healthy back and keeping active can significantly increase the chances of preventing back pain. This includes everything from regular exercise to good sleeping habits, a healthy diet, and focusing on good posture (standing and especially seated at a desk).

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Getting an opinion from a certified medical practitioner is always recommended for any form of back pain in the back, especially when the pain is persistent or so severe that it limits you from performing the basic physical movement.

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While a number of different types of medical practitioners can be consulted (including GP’s and Physiotherapists), Chiropractors specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of the neuromusculoskeletal system which includes pain in the back and spine.

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Typically, when you consult a Chiropractor, they perform an assessment or diagnosis and then work with you to develop a treatment plan. The Chiropractor will assess both the pelvic joint as well as the lower spinal joints and if needed spinal manipulations will be performed in the relevant joints. Depending on the type of back pain and its cause, patients often find significant pain relief after only a single adjustment (or session). The Chiropractor will also assist in helping with posture correction which can be contributing to lower back pain. Chiropractors can also help you maintain your back health by providing stretches or exercises that can help you with pain relief as well as prevention of future back-related conditions.