Lower back pain is one of the most common ailments that many people suffer from and deal with on a daily basis. It can be caused by a variety of factors, making it sometimes difficult to pinpoint the cause. Lower back pain can range from mild to severe and knowing what causes lower back pain can help you better understand how to treat it and prevent it from returning. In this blog post, we’ll explore and outline the three most common causes of lower back pain and what you can do to prevent the issue from arising.
Muscle Strain
One of the most common causes of lower back pain is muscle strain. This occurs when the muscles in your lower back become overworked or strained due to an activity or exercise that you’ve done. Muscle strain can be caused by lifting heavy objects, bending over for long periods of time, or engaging in activities that require repetitive motions such as running or swimming. Symptoms of muscle strain include soreness, stiffness, and difficulty moving around. It’s important to make sure before you engage in physical activity that you stretch properly so you can prevent a lower back injury from occurring.
Poor Posture
A lot of us are guilty of this — and sometimes, we may not even realize it. But, another common cause of lower back pain is, indeed, poor posture. Poor posture can put extra stress on your spine and muscles, leading to mild to severe pain and discomfort. This can be caused by sitting for long periods of time with poor posture or not stretching properly before engaging in physical activity. Symptoms that are commonly associated with poor posture, alongside lower back pain, are neck and shoulder stiffness. You can work with a professional to correct your posture which then can help reduce your lower back pain. Physical therapy is great for this sort of thing!
Injury
The third common cause of lower back pain is when you’ve suffered an injury. Injury to the spine or muscles in your lower back can cause severe pain and discomfort that may require medical attention. Common injuries that lead to lower back pain include car accidents, sports injuries, falls, and lifting heavy objects incorrectly. Symptoms associated with injury-related lower back pain may include swelling, bruising, difficulty moving around normally, and numbness and tingling in the affected area.
Conclusion
To wrap it all up, lower back pain is a very common ailment that affects many people every day. The good news is that Rebalance Physical Therapy in Bellingham, WA can help! Physical therapy is one of the best routes to recovery when it comes to lower back pain. We work with you closely to find the root cause of your problem, correct the issue, and reduce pain so you can get back to living a healthy, normal lifestyle without lower back pain. Understanding the three most common causes can help you take steps towards preventing them from occurring in the future so you don’t have to suffer from painful episodes again!
And if you’re interested in learning more about how we can help YOU reduce your lower back pain, be sure to contact us today for more information! We’d love to hear from you!
