Most commonly mechanical and soft issue injuries are the cause of low backpain. These injuries can include damage to the intervertebral discs, compression of nerve roots and improper movement of the spinal cord.
1. MUSCLE STRAIN AND LIGAMENT SPRAIN – a low back pain sprain or strain can happen suddenly or can develop slowly over night from repetitive movement .
a -) Sprain – it happens when overstretching and tearing affects the ligament which
connects the bone together.
b -) Strain – it occurs when a muscle is stretched too far and tears damage the muscle
itself.
2. LUMBER HERNIATED DISCS – the jelly like centre of a lumber disc can break through the tough outer layer and irritate a nearby nerve root. The herniated nerve portion of the disc is full of proteins that cause inflammation when they reach a nerve root and inflammation as well as nerve compression ,cause nerve root pain . The disc wall is also richly supplied by nerve fibres and a tear through the wall can cause severe pain.
3. FACET JOINT DISFUNCTION – there are two facet joints behind each disc at each motion segment in the lumber spine .These joints have cartilage between the bones and are surrounded by a capsular ligament which is richly innervated by nerves . These joints can be painful by themself or in conjunction with disc pain.
4. SACROILIAC JOINT DISFUNCTION – the sacroiliac joint connects the sacrum at the bottom of the spine to each side of the pelvis ,it is a strong low motion joint that primarily absorbs shock and tension between the upper body and the lower body . The sacroiliac joint can become painful if it’s become inflamed or if there is too much or too little motion of the joint.
5. SPINAL STENOSIS – this condition causes pain through narrowing of the spinal canal where the nerve roots are located .The narrowing can be central ,foraminal or both and can be at a single level or multiple levels in the lower back .
6. SPONDYLOLISTHESIS – these conditions occur when one vertebrae slips over the adjacent one. There are five types of spondylolisthesis but the most common are secondary to a defect or fracture between the facet joint or degenerative that can be caused by instability or compression of the nerve .
7. OSTEOARTHRITIS – this condition results from bear and tear of the discs and facet joint.it causes pain , inflammation, instability and stenosis to a variable degree and can occur at a single level or multiple levels of the lower spine . Spinal osteoarthritis is associated with aging and is slowly progressive.it is also referred to as spondylitis or degenerative joint disease .
8. TRAUMA – acute fractures or dislocation of the spine can lead to pain. Lower back pain that develops after a trauma such as a motor vehicle accident or a fall.
Poor posture is one of the most common contributions to back pain that is unrelated to other spinal conditions . Slouching for instance puts a lot of sprain on the muscle of the back leading to chronic pain and tension.
Back pain is one of the first sign of poor posture as the load of the spine disperses unevenly .
There are various ways posture causes back pain.
1. Lying on the stomach to watch television or using mobile phones.
2. Slouching or slumping on a chair or couch.
3. Sitting on a bed and working on the laptop .
4. Putting all body weight on one leg while standing.
5. Lifting heavy weight off the floor and bending at the back.
1.Standing – keep the head up, shoulder straight and chest forward . Avoid standing in the same position for too long.Then try resting one foot on a stool to reduce stress on the lower back .
2.Sitting –use a supportive chair and lumber roll and avoid sitting in a soft chair. Sit back in the chair and keep the shoulder relaxed. The head should be balanced over the shoulder and the forearms and thighs should be parallel to the floor .
3. Lifting – keep the back straight and use thigh muscle to lift heavy weight .Then bend your knees, keep the object close to the body and stand up with leg strength.
4. Sleeping – use a supportive mattress and pillow that supports the neck, sleep facing upwards or sideways.
5. Moving around – avoid sitting and standing in one place for too long. Move around the room to avoid putting pressure on the spine
