Lower back pain has reached epidemic proportions in the western world. Research
shows that 80% of the Western world’s population will suffer from it at some stage during their lives.  Back pain is very common in children. Around 50% of children in Europe experience back pain at some time.  At present Doctors in the U.K. write 55 million prescriptions for painkillers due to back pain each year.

Back pain responds well to osteopathic treatment – reducing pain and restoring mobility
and quality of life.

Back pain – causes and effects

Back pain can result from bad posture, a sudden jerky movement, a lumpy mattress or poor lifting techniques. It can also be caused by injury in a work place, by a sport's accident or by muscular spasms. It often occurs during pregnancy or, because of decreased flexibility, as people get older.

There are also many diseases and pathological conditions that can lead to back pain.
These include abdominal or pelvic disease, anxiety, arthritis, cervical or lumbar
spondylosis, dermatological problems, kidney disease, rheumatic conditions, tumours
and scoliosis. Our modern, sedentary lifestyles have a profound effect on the development of back pain; indeed one of the most effective ways of preventing it is simply to stay active.

An average adult in the spends at least two hours a day in front of a computer
screen or television set, and back problems can be triggered if they don’t sit properly.
In an age of cell phones and computer games, such troubles are increasingly
inflicting children of school age as well.

Like any other form of pain, back pain is ultimately caused by damage to the nervous system – the nerves simply produce pain in response to a harmful event (thereby alerting the brain to the problem).  The nervous system is responsible for many activities, and occasionally signals from minor damage in the spine are misinterpreted by the brain and this leads to the phenomenon of referred pain.  This occurs when the brain (which receives and interprets pain signals) is unable to identify the exact location of the problem. The most common form of referred pain is probably sciatica, a condition which occurs when the sciatic nerve (part of the somatic system) is compressed. The nerve itself has five roots on either side of the spine – these roots exit the vertebral column from the foramina of L4-S3 (five holes = five roots) and come together to form the sciatic nerve – just below, and to the side, of S4.

Compression of the articular facet joints at vertebral levels L4, L5 or S1 can lead to sciatic, nerve root impingement and hence to pain.
However, the brain finds it difficult to determine whether the pain is coming from the nerve root, or from the main segment that extends into the leg and as a result the pain is sometimes perceived as originating in the foot, leg or buttocks – a condition referred to as sciatica.

Osteopathy and the treatment of back pain

Osteopathic treatment is often the most effective first line of attack in correcting
problems caused by back pain. Speedy access to osteopathic care for acute patients
often averts the possibility of conditions becoming chronic.

By correcting any underlying mechanical disturbances in the musculo-skeletal system,
osteopaths can greatly relieve pain and distress, minimise dependency on drugs and
slash the cost of treatment for side effects.  Osteopathic treatment often negates the need for further medical investigation or surgery, although osteopaths are skilled in diagnosing problems that require such investigation or treatment and know when to refer to physicians.

Back problems account for over 50% of the cases Osteopaths see.

Osteopathic treatment involves manual techniques, including soft tissue stretching and massage, combined with mobilisation and manipulation of the joints. The treatment is effective and conducted with the patient's assistance. By designing an appropriate course of treatments, your Osteopath will also provide an ongoing management program to prevent a recurrence of the problem.  Osteopaths will look at your back pain in context of your life at present, their treatment will take in to account the many factors contributing to your health. To this end, Osteopaths provide advise on diet, exercise, posture and many other aspects of daily life. This comprehensive approach to care and treatment complement the body's natural functions, not only relieving your from your present back pain but taking you to a greater potential and capacity then before.