Common Conditions

Low Back Pain

Symptoms, Common Causes and Treatments

Understanding Low Back Pain

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons for people visiting physicians, and the lifetime prevalence is over 80% in the adult population with a high recurrence rate. This condition can affect individuals of any age. The pain can manifest in different forms and are classified into acute (lasting less than 6 weeks), subacute (6-12 weeks), and chronic (over 12 weeks). Chronic low back pain poses substantial challenges, leading to decreased work productivity and impacting overall quality of life on a global scale. In Hong Kong alone, the economic burden is evident, with significant healthcare expenditures attributed to clinical consultations for work-related low back pain.

Symptoms

While acute lower back pain often resolves on its own, some cases progress to chronic pain, necessitating comprehensive management strategies. Common symptoms include muscle tension, soreness with movement, and pain radiating down the leg (sciatica). Sciatica typically involves compression or injury to spinal nerve roots, resulting in sensations ranging from dull aches to sharp, electric shocks. Accompanying symptoms may include numbness and muscle weakness.

Causes and Risk Factors

Low back pain in adolescents often stems from muscle strain and poor posture, while degenerative changes in intervertebral discs and ageing facet joints are more common among the elderly.

Mechanical factors play a significant role in the development of low back pain. Acute episodes are frequently the result of sudden injuries or trauma causing immediate tissue damage, whereas chronic pain tends to evolve gradually, often worsened by recurring incidents. Factors such as poor posture or improper sports techniques can also contribute to the onset and persistence of chronic low back pain.

Diagnosing the precise cause of low back pain can be challenging due to the complex interplay of various nociceptive structures in the lower back. Furthermore, low back pain typically has multiple contributing factors, including biomechanical (e.g., strained muscles and ligaments), psychological (e.g., stress and depression), and social factors (e.g., occupation and living environment). Therefore, a thorough assessment is essential to uncover the underlying issues causing the pain.

Management Approach

The management strategies will also be different according to the assessment findings. Therefore, a thorough assessment focusing beyond the lumbar spine is important. Key areas like the hip joint, pelvis, thoracic spine and even the lower limbs can all cause low back pain. Without identifying the cause, the pain could always return after temporary relief of acute symptoms.

Treatments as Physiotherapists

Professional Treatments

In terms of treatment, physiotherapists use different techniques to help you recover, which includes a range of modalities and treatment methods to help reduce your low back pain:

Manual Therapy: joint mobilisation on the lumbar spine, as well as soft tissue therapy on surrounding muscles in order to restore joint mobility
Acupuncture for pain modulation: dry needling techniques targeting trigger points of muscles surrounding the lumbar spine can help reduce muscle tightness, which results in improved pain and mobility
Electrophysical modalities: commonly used modalities such as shockwave therapy, interferential therapy and high energy inductive therapy all assist with pain relief for acute pain around the low back
Exercise therapy: Nerve gliding exercises, joint mobilisation exercise and muscle strengthening exercise focusing on trunk and hip will also be prescribed. The therapist will also educate the patient on the relevant anatomy of the pain source, how the pain possibly started, and how the patient can incorporate lifestyle changes to assist with recovery.

How To Prevent Lower Back Pain

To prevent low back pain, it is crucial to maintain proper posture during work and daily activities, alongside regular exercise and a balanced diet.

Effective posture maintenance involves:

Sitting Posture

- Sit with your back straight and avoid leaning backward over the seat.
- Adjust chair height so your feet are flat on the floor with knees and hips at 90 degrees.
- Maintain the natural curves of the spine.
- Change postures regularly.

Lifting and Moving Objects

- Assess the weight and plan the maneuver before lifting.
- Maintain a straight back and use leg muscles to lift, avoiding twisting of the waist.
- Keep objects close to the body and avoid overhead reaching.
- Seek assistance for extremely heavy objects to avoid strain.

Regular Exercise

- Exercise regularly to strengthen muscles, tendons, and ligaments supporting the spine.
- Gradually increase exercise intensity and follow proper techniques to prevent injury.

Conclusion

In conclusion, addressing low back pain effectively requires understanding its diverse causes and appropriate management strategies tailored to individual circumstances.

Testimonials & Reviews

I came to them with chronic neck and knee issues, and they didn't just provide massage therapy. They took the time to thoroughly evaluate the source of my problems and develop a comprehensive treatment plan.
Through a combination of targeted hands-on therapy, customized strengthening exercises, and patient education, they helped me regain mobility and address the root causes of my pain. I learned the correct ways to strengthen the muscles and improve my posture to prevent future issues.
The staff is incredibly knowledgeable, taking the time to explain everything and ensure I understood how to continue my progress at home. Thanks to their expertise and dedication, I'm now pain-free and able to return to my regular activities without any limitations.

Arthur Liu

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I had never been a believer in physio therapy in the past or that my experience with multiple chain medical physiotherapy center had brought me nothing but temporary improvements. Until I had came across mobilize physiotherapy where they take the extra mile to examine your situation and tailor a physiotherapy session. The physiotherapists at Mobilize not only identifies the root cause and provide massages for pain relievers but also to provide take home exercises for improvements. I was never rush out the door for the next session and they ensure that I had receive the right treatment before the session ends.
I would highly recommend this physiotherapy center.

Edmond Chan

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After suffering years of chronic knee issues after ACL reconstructive surgery I was recommended to this clinic and the results were amazing. The centre does not only focus on pain relief but with an extremely holistic approach, assesses the root cause of pain and focuses on return to sports and performance once the pain diminishes. Most physiotherapy centres in Hong Kong do not even offer this level of attention to detail and service and would highly recommend to anyone having chronic pains or want to have proper post orthopaedic surgery rehabilitation!

Arnold Woo

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I can't recommend my physio partner enough! They are always patient and provide valuable guidance to help me relieve chronic pain and improve my performance in jiu-jitsu. Their expertise has been invaluable to me. Highly recommended!

Felix Kung

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Will was very professional. He was very thorough with the assessment and suggested different exercises for me to improve my condition. Recommended 👍🏾

Keith So

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Very professional therapy that doesn't only focus on passive treatment but also targets training of weak spots to improve overall performance and physiological sustainability.

Felix Lo

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