Back Pain
Back Pain
Back pain is a prevalent issue in the UK, significantly impacting individuals and the economy.
Prevalence and Economic Impact:
- Prevalence:
Approximately 46.5% of the UK population experiences back pain at some point in their lives. - Workdays Lost:
In the 2022/23 period, an estimated 6.6 million working days were lost due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders, with back pain being a major contributor. - Economic Cost:
Work-related musculoskeletal issues, including back pain, cost the UK economy over £5.7 billion annually.
Symptoms of Back Pain:
Back pain can manifest in various ways, including:
- Muscle Aches:
Persistent or intermittent aching in the back muscles. - Shooting or Stabbing Pain:
Sharp sensations that may radiate down the leg (sciatica). - Limited Flexibility:
Reduced range of motion or difficulty standing up straight. - Numbness or Tingling:
Especially in cases involving nerve compression.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms we are here to help.
Â
How do we assess
The first part is the listen to your story we take an in-depth injury history as well as understanding the mechanism of the current problem. We look for patterns in your story to make the best possible picture. We then look at your range of movement before moving into any muscular testing. We will assess the site of pain as well as areas above and below to ensure we have full information to move forwards.
How do we treat
Treatment can comprise of both hands on and exercise based activities. Hands on work will look to relieve muscle tension through soft tissue work while exercise will follow a four-step progression.
- Restore full range of movement
- Start loading the muscles isometrically
- Increase strength in a single plane of movement
- Strength exercises in multiple planes of movements
