Back Pain Treatment

Back pain is one of the largest complaints received by Osteopaths.

The treatment of back pain in Brisbane and the rest of Australia follows the epidemic proportions in all of the western world. It is thought that 60% of Australia’s population will suffer from it at some stage during their lives. Back pain responds well to osteopathic treatment, which can reduce pain and restore mobility and quality of life.

Back Pain Statistics

• Lower back pain now affects two-thirds of the adult population of Australia; it is the nation’s leading cause of disability.
• Four out of five people will suffer back pain lasting longer than a day at some point in their lives.
• Millions of dollars every year is spent on services used by sufferers of back pain, including millions of GP consultations and therapy sessions
• Back pain is also common in children. Around 50% of children in Australia experience back pain at some time.
• Back problems and repetitive strain injuries cost Australian industry millions of dollars each year.
• Doctors write millions of prescriptions for painkillers each year.

Causes and Effects

The problem with back pain is that it can do more than just give you an ache in the back. It can create difficulties with walking, sitting, bending and lifting and can even lead to depression and incontinence.

It can also be the cause of pain in the legs, groin or buttocks (commonly referred to as sciatica), in the head, neck, shoulders and arms. Furthermore, it can also be one of the effects of hip, knee and foot problems.

Back pain can result from poor posture, sudden jerky movements, a mattress that needs replacing or poor lifting techniques. It can also be caused by injury in a work place, by a sports accident or by muscular spasms. It often occurs during pregnancy or as people age (because of decreased flexibility).

There are also many diseases and pathological conditions that can trigger 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. One of the best ways of preventing it is to stay active and keep moving.

An average adult in Australia spends at least two hours a day in front of a computer screen or television set (often much more), and back problems can be triggered if they don’t sit properly. In an age of mobile phones and video games, such troubles are increasingly affecting children of school age as well.

Osteopathy to treat back pain

Osteopathic treatment is often the most effective treatment method used in correcting problems caused by back pain. By correcting any underlying mechanical disturbances in the musculoskeletal system, osteopaths can greatly relieve pain and minimise possible dependency on pain killers and even slash the cost of treatment for side effects.