Source: https://burnetttoday.com.au/news/2020/09/08/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-back-pain/
10 things you need to know about back pain
by Jessica McGrath
There are many misconceptions about back pain and what a physiotherapist actually does. Here are 10 back facts to keep in mind this World Physiotherapist Day, 8 September:
1. Long lasting low back pain can be scary, but it’s rarely dangerous
It can be distressing and disabling, but it is rarely life threatening.
2. Getting older is not a cause of low back pain
Evidence based treatments can help at any age.
3. Long lasting back pain is rarely associated with serious tissue damage
Backs are strong and tissue heals from an injury within three months. If pain persists beyond this time, it usually means there are contributing factors like stress, tension, fatigue, inactivity or unaccustomed activity.
4. Scans rarely show the cause of low back pain
Scans are only helpful in a minority of people and often don’t predict how much pain you feel or how disabled you are.
5. Pain with exercise and movement doesn’t mean you are doing harm
The pain you feel during movement and activities reflects how sensitive your structures, like your spine and surrounding muscles, are -not how damaged you are.
6. Back pain is not caused by poor posture
A variety of postures are healthy for the back, it is safe to relax during everyday tasks.
7. Back pain is not caused by a ‘weak core’
Being strong is important when you need the muscles to switch on, but being tense all the time is not helpful. Learning to relax the ‘core’ muscles during everyday tasks can be helpful.
8. Backs do not wear out with everyday loading and bending
The same way lifting weights makes muscles stronger, moving and loading make the back stronger and healthier.
9. Pain flare-ups do not mean you are damaging yourself
The common triggers for pain flare-ups are things like sleep, stress, tension, worries, low mood, inactivity or unaccustomed activity rather than tissue damage.
10. Injections, surgery and strong opioids usually aren’t a cure
Spine injections, surgery and strong drugs like opioids are not very effective for persistent back pain in the long term.