Causes of Lower Back Pain

With the weight of the upper body resting on the lower back, there are much stress and strain applied to these structures. Back pain may result from abnormalities in the soft tissues - the muscles, ligaments, and nerves as well as in bones and joints of the spine.

Motor vehicle and sporting accidents are common causes too, causing increased strain and tear to the supporting structures of the lower back.

Treatment of your back pain is dependent on the cause of pain. A thorough physiotherapy assessment aids us to identify the cause of the back pain. The common causes of back pain are:

• Poor Posture - Poor posture stresses your spine. Ligaments are over-stretched, muscles tire and joints and nerves are put under pressure. Long hours of sitting, strenuous lifting techniques and poor mattress can all contribute or aggravate the back pain.

• Muscle Strains - Minor back muscle strains quickly improve on their own but more severe strains will need physiotherapy treatment to relieve pain and promote healing.

• Ligament Strains - Stretching ligaments too far or too quickly makes them tear and bleed into surrounding tissues, causing swelling and pain.

• Disc problems - Discs are anchored to the vertebrae above and below, so they cannot 'slip' out of place. They can wear down with age, but most disc problems arise from injury. Discs can bulge (prolapse) or herniated, pressing on the spinal nerves/ spinal cord, causing pain and numbness down legs, pins and needles as well as legs weakness. 

• Sciatica - The sciatic nerve run from the lower back, through the buttocks and down the back of your legs. Irritation anywhere along this pathway will cause pain in the back and legs.

• Arthritis - Vertebral and facet joints can be affected by arthritis, causing degeneration and inflammation within the joint and the growth of bony spurs on the edges of the vertebrae.

• Muscle Weakness - Recent research has shown that weakness of the deep abdominal muscles can contribute to increased strain on the lower back.

Experienced Physiotherapists in Singapore, with over 15 years of experience help you get back pain relief quickly and easily.

If you are suffering from pain in your back, you can book an appointment to see our Senior Physiotherapist. We are located right in the heart of Singapore, at Orchard, and are available Mondays through Saturday.