Lower Back Pain Myths…… Busted!
I hurt my back so I need to stay in bed to rest: FALSE
While avoiding aggravating activities can be beneficial in the initial few days after injury to help relieve pain, evidence supports the use of exercise, movement and returning to normal daily activities for optimal recovery from lower back pain.
The more pain I am in the more damage there is: FALSE
Pain does not always equal harm. People can have a similar injury but experience very different levels of pain. Pain is influenced by many factors including previous pain experiences, stress, mood, activity levels and coping style. Rehabilitation addressing all these factors is encouraged to fully address a persons’ experience of lower back pain.
My spine goes out of place: FALSE
There is no evidence that low back pain is caused by a bone or joint in your back or your pelvis being out of place or alignment. X-rays and scans for the most part do not show any evidence of bones or joints being ‘out of place’. This also applies to the common myth that discs can move or ‘pop’ in and out. While discs can be a source of pain at times, many people without lower back pain also have disc ‘bulges’.
Therefore, it is important for physiotherapists and health care practitioners to reflect on the fact that suggesting structures have moved out of place is potentially frightening and may lead to heightened levels of fear, stress and anxiety, all of which have been shown to be associated with poorer outcomes in low back pain.
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We hope you enjoyed today’s blog by Mark Canning, Chartered Physiotherapist.