The old children’s nursery rhyme goes, “Don’t step on a crack, or you’ll break your momma’s back!” While it may have been a game to you as a child, the truth is, lower back pain is something that will affect approximately two-thirds of all Americans at some point in their lives.
Sometimes, you’ll know precisely what caused your back pain; maybe you helped a friend move or had a strenuous workout or did something else to over-exert your muscles there. Other times, you’ll wake up and just know you slept on it wrong. This is what is known as acute back pain, and it fades away over time.
For other people, however, lower back pain is a constant reality. This is what is known as chronic back pain, and it has a number of different causes.
What causes back pain?
If we’re talking about chronic back pain, it can be caused by things such as:
- Osteoporosis
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Endometriosis
- Long-term damage caused by traumatic occurrences, such as a car accident or sports injury
When it comes to acute back pain, some of the causes can include:
- Weight gain
- Kidney stones
- Backpack overload
- Occupational factors
- Overexertion
- Herniated discs
- Traumatic injuries, such as a car accident or sport injury
These are just a few of the things that can cause lower back pain. To find the actual cause, please consult your doctor.
Treating lower back pain
There are a variety of different ways that you can treat lower back pain. Your doctor can prescribe a method of treatment to either alleviate the symptoms or eliminate the cause altogether. Here at Horizon Rehab, we regularly work with people who are suffering from lower back pain. If your doctor has recommended physical therapy to alleviate your symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact us today. The sooner you’re out of pain, the better!