Lower back pain has been a major cause of occupational-related disability. This is according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). No less than 80% of Americans will experience lower back pain at some point in their lives.

Lower back pain is mostly caused by injuries such as muscle strains or sprains. These strains and sprains are due to poor body mechanics or sudden movements while carrying heavy objects.

Some diseases may contribute to lower back pain. These include:

• Spinal cancer
• Sciatica
• Herniated or ruptured disc
• Kidney infection
• Arthritis
• Spinal infections

Acute back pain can last a few days to some weeks. On the other hand, chronic back pain lasts more than three months.

Lower back pain occurs frequently in individuals between 30-50 years of age. This is due to the many changes that take place in the body as it ages. As you get older, the fluid in your spinal vertebrae will reduce.

This means that there will be frequent irritation of the discs in your spine and loss of muscle tone, thus making your back more prone to injury. This explains why good body mechanics help to prevent lower back pain.

What’s the Treatment for Lower Back Pain?

Treatment for lower back pain includes:

• Medications
• Physical therapy
• Medical appliances

Physical Therapy for Lower Back Pain

Physical therapists at Absolute Physical Therapy & Fitness in Katy, TX can help you with lower back pain treatment. They can prescribe physical therapy such as:

• Stretching
• Massage
• Spinal and back manipulation
• Strengthening exercises

Preventing Lower Back Pain

There are quite a lot of ways to prevent lower back pain. Physical therapists in Katy, TX can assist you with several prevention techniques to reduce the severity of your symptoms if you’ve got lower back pain.

Some important prevention tips include:

• Losing weight for those that are obese or overweight
• Exercising your abdominal and back muscles
• Maintaining the right posture
• Taking the right posture when lifting objects. You can do this by bending your knees and lifting the object with the legs.