Lower Back Pain and Sciatica

Estimates from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, suggest that around 70-90% of Australians will experience back pain during their lives.  Lower back pain and sciatica are chronic conditions, which can adversely affect your quality of life and daily routine.  With the guidance of your physiotherapist, your condition can be effectively managed and symptoms reduced.  In this blog post, Orthosports Physio will be taking a look at the risk factors for lower back pain and the various treatment options which are available. 

What’s the Difference between Lower Back Pain and Sciatica?

You may be wondering what the difference between lower back pain and sciatica is, especially since both terms refer to back pain.  Put simply, lower back pain can refer to any pain involving the lower back (lumbar region).  Sciatica is a much more specific term, referring to pain which radiates along the sciatic nerve.  This nerve extends from the lower back into the legs and it is prone to irritation and compression, most commonly due to a herniated disc, or the presence of bone spurs on the vertebrae. 

Causes of Lower Back Pain:

The causes of lower back pain are varied, with some of the most common causes including:

• Injury (such as sudden trauma from awkward movement, or as a result of heavy lifting)

• Poor posture

• Lumbar spine joint stiffness

• Muscle tightness

• Fractures

• Spinal osteoarthritis

• Torn or pulled muscle/ligament

• Osteoarthritis

• Disc bulges/ ruptures

Symptoms and Risk Factors:

For both conditions, pain can vary in severity.  You may notice a feeling of tightness in the lower back, a dull ache or pain, numbness, tingling and, in the case of sciatica, pain which radiates down to the legs.  Lower back pain can make it very difficult to go about your daily life, especially for those who work in an office, or are required to be seated for long periods of time. 

Those who are overweight or lead a sedentary lifestyle, are at greater risk of experiencing lower back pain.  Keen sports people and those who do a lot of manual labour, may also experience it as a result of acute injury.  The ageing process, as well as genetic predispositions, are also risk factors. 

Treatment Options:

Whilst rest will often aid in alleviating your symptoms, it is important to schedule an appointment with your physiotherapist, so that your condition can be diagnosed and managed effectively.  At Orthosports Physio, we create tailored treatment programs that take into account your condition, abilities and lifestyle.  Treatment is intended to improve core strength and spinal stability, helping to reduce pain and enable you to return to your everyday routine, as soon as possible.

The following may be incorporated as part of your treatment plan:

• Exercise based therapy/ core strength programs

• Postural advice

• Taping (for postural correction)

• Soft tissue massage

• Manual therapy

• Stretching

Suffering from lower back pain or sciatica?  Visit Orthosports Physio today.

Lower back pain and sciatica can be debilitating, but with the guidance of your physiotherapist you may start to notice a marked improvement in symptoms and function, in as little as a few weeks.

If you have been struggling with pain, pick up the phone and call Orthosports Physio today on 9744-2201.  Our friendly team look forward to helping you get back to your normal routine, as quickly and safely as possible.