Back Pain Relief
Reclaim Your Life, Free from Back Pain
Welcome to your journey towards freedom from back pain. One of the prevalent health issues in the United States is back pain, manifesting itself in various forms ranging from a persistent, mild ache to an abrupt, acute pain that might radiate down your leg. Back pain can be triggered by sudden incidents like accidents, falls, or lifting heavy objects, but it can also gradually develop due to age-induced changes in the spine. Sometimes, medical conditions such as inflammatory arthritis disorders are the culprits behind this pain.
Understanding the intricacy of back pain and its myriad causes, we at PhysioFit advocate for a multi-pronged approach to treatment. With each patient's unique path to relief in mind, we use evidence-based, fitness-centered physical therapy to offer personalized care. Our commitment is not only to alleviate your back discomfort but also to help you adopt measures that enhance your overall well being, thereby reducing the risk of chronic or prolonged pain, and enabling a swift return to your daily activities.
What You Should Know
Acute Back Pain: This is a sudden onset of discomfort that usually lasts from a few days up to a few weeks. Acute back pain is often the result of an accident or sudden physical strain.
Subacute Back Pain: This form of back pain can either come on abruptly or develop gradually over time, typically lasting from 4 to 12 weeks. It may be caused by an injury or overuse of the back muscles.
Chronic Back Pain: Characterized by discomfort lasting more than 12 weeks and occurring daily, chronic back pain may manifest quickly or slowly. It's often associated with degenerative conditions, such as arthritis or disc disease.
A proper diagnosis of a back problem involves a thorough evaluation from a professional.
The Most Common Causes of Back Pain
Back pain can emanate from a diverse array of factors, often intertwining and collectively leading to chronic lower back pain. These factors span mechanical or structural issues with the spine, inflammatory conditions, and other medical disorders. In some instances, it may even be challenging to pinpoint a definite cause for the onset of back discomfort.
Back pain may arise due to mechanical or structural irregularities within the spine, discs, muscles, ligaments, or tendons in the back, or due to nerve compression.
Sprains: These injuries affect the ligaments that provide support to the spine, connecting various bones together. Sprains often occur due to improper twisting or lifting.
Strains: These refer to injuries to a muscle or tendon, which can lead to significant back pain.
Degenerative disc disease: Aging leads to a gradual breakdown of the discs situated between the vertebrae of the spine. This condition is often associated with other degenerative spinal changes, such as arthritis or spinal stenosis.
Herniated or ruptured discs: These conditions occur when a disc compresses and irritates adjacent nerves, usually at the lumbar level but it can also affect the cervical spine.
Spondylolisthesis: This condition is characterized by a vertebra in the spine slipping out of its place or slowly misaligning.
Fractured vertebrae: Fractures of the spinal bones can be a significant source of back pain.
Scoliosis or other congenital changes to the spine: Birth defects and developmental abnormalities like scoliosis can lead to chronic back discomfort.
Myofascial pain: This condition refers to the tightness and pain in the muscles supporting the spine, which could result from muscle damage or from nerve input to the muscles originating from the spine.
As for inflammatory conditions, they also play a significant role in back pain:
Ankylosing spondylitis: This is a specific type of arthritis that affects the spine, causing stiffness and discomfort.
Other Medical Conditions that can cause back pain:
Osteoporosis, Fibromyalgia, Kidney Issues, Endometriosis, Spinal Infections, Tumors, Pregnancy.
Remember, if you resonate with any of the symptoms or conditions mentioned, we highly recommend making an appointment with us for a thorough evaluation and personalized treatment plan.
Proactive Steps for Back Pain Prevention
It's possible to avoid back pain resulting from excessive use or incorrect body movements. Here are some guidelines to foster a healthy back and promote a wholesome lifestyle:
Regular Exercise for a Strong Back: Engage in consistent exercises that fortify your back muscles. Balance-enhancing and strength-boosting activities, like yoga or tai chi, reduce the risk of falls, subsequent back injuries, and bone fractures. Always remember to warm up before any physical activity.
Nutrient-Rich Diet for a Robust Spine: Adopt a healthy diet packed with ample amounts of calcium and vitamin D, the essential nutrients for maintaining spinal strength.
Maintain a Healthy Weight for Stress Reduction: Keep your weight in check. Excess weight can exert unnecessary and harmful stress on your back.
Good Posture for Back Support: Embrace good posture, refraining from slouching. Ensure your back is well-supported while sitting and standing.
Safe Lifting Techniques for Injury Prevention: Evade lifting heavy objects as much as possible. If you have to, rely on your legs and abdominal muscles, not your back.
Common Symptoms of Back Pain
Escalated discomfort when executing lifting or bending movements.
Intensifying pain during rest periods, sitting stances, or when standing.
Rigidity in the morning upon waking, coupled with diminishing back pain upon engaging in activities.
Pain that travels from the back to other areas such as the buttocks, leg, or hip.
Discomfort in your neck, arm, or back
Recurring episodes of back discomfort.
Remember, if you resonate with any of the symptoms or conditions mentioned, we highly recommend making an appointment with us for a thorough evaluation and personalized treatment plan.
Please Note: The information provided on our website is intended for general education and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Each individual's situation and body is different. Therefore, what may work for one person may not work for another. We care about your well-being and advise you to reach out to us to discuss your specific needs before implementing any advice from our website.
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Flexion-Intolerant Lower Back Pain in CrossFitters
Understanding Flexion-Intolerant Low Back Pain in Functional Fitness
Flexion-intolerant low back pain (FILBP) is a prevalent issue among individuals engaged in functional fitness activities, including CrossFit. This condition is characterized by discomfort or pain during movements that involve bending forward at the lumbar spine. Exercises such as deadlifts, kettlebell swings, rowing, toes-to-bar, burpees, and devil's presses, which require significant lumbar flexion, can exacerbate symptoms.
Mechanisms Behind Flexion Intolerance
The lumbar spine's intervertebral discs are particularly susceptible to flexion-related stress. Repeated or sustained forward bending increases pressure on the anterior portion of these discs, potentially leading to disc herniation or bulging. This can irritate adjacent nerve roots, resulting in pain that may radiate to the buttocks or legs, commonly known as sciatica. Individuals with FILBP often experience heightened discomfort during activities involving forward bending and may find relief in positions that promote lumbar extension. However, while stretches like the "prayer stretch" may provide temporary relief, they can potentially exacerbate the problem by repeatedly placing the lumbar spine in a flexed position, which may aggravate underlying issues over time.
Common lumbar extension exercises that may provide relief include the "cobra" pose, repeated cobra movements, and the backward phase of a Glute-Ham Developer (GHD) sit-up. These exercises encourage spinal extension, which can help alleviate pressure on affected discs and reduce pain.
Impact on Functional Fitness and CrossFit
Functional fitness and CrossFit routines frequently incorporate high-repetition, high-intensity movements involving lumbar flexion. For example, a typical workout might include a sequence of 21 kettlebell swings, 15 toes-to-bar, and 9 deadlifts performed in rapid succession. While this workout can be effective for increasing fitness in individuals without FILBP, it can place significant stress on the lumbar spine for those with this condition. When executed with improper form or under fatigue, such routines may provoke increased symptoms in the back or legs.
Conclusion
FILBP presents a significant challenge for individuals participating in functional fitness and CrossFit. Consulting with a physical therapist who understands weightlifting and CrossFit, and modifying workouts to reduce lumbar flexion, can be effective steps toward managing symptoms and maintaining fitness goals. Understanding the underlying mechanisms and recognizing the impact of specific movements on the lumbar spine are crucial steps toward effectively addressing this condition.
If you're experiencing any of these symptoms and cannot resolve them, give us a call to see how we can help
Get In Touch
Email: info@physiofitbend.com
Hours
Mon – Fri - 7:00am – 7:00pm
Saturday - Sunday – CLOSED
Phone Number:
(541) 697-4700
Location: 1334 Northeast 2nd Street, Bend, OR 97701
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