We've all been told things along the way with varying degrees of truth... Whether you're at the office or at the gym, here are 5 of the most important things you need to know about your low back!

1. LOW BACK PAIN CAN BE CONFUSING!

The low back can be a referral site of pain for issues going on outside of the lower back. Often times the issue can be from muscle restrictions around the back including the glutes, abdominals or the pelvic floor. Be sure to note if you are having bowel or bladder issues related to your low back pain to see if your pelvic floor might be contributing to your low back issues.

2. LOW BACK DIAGNOSES ARE EXTREMELY CONFUSING.

In addition to "throwing out your back," the words “sciatica” or “lumbago” or “degenerative disc disease” or“herniated disc” or “stenosis” are also thrown around! These are a few of the common terms medical professionals can use to diagnose low back issues. People can get very caught up in giving the problem a name, but mostly what this does is give you a scary mental picture for your low back pain.

3. IMAGING IS OFTEN TIMES UNNECESSARY.

People often think that if their back hurts, they need to know what is going on. And then they think they need an x-ray or an MRI so they can see exactly what it is. But all that you get from an x-ray or an MRI is a scary word describing your back (see point 2). It doesn’t necessarily help with treatment!

4. LOW BACK PAIN CAN BE SIMPLIFIED!

Don’t worry so much about the scary medical words or the imaging. Those usually don’t actually get to the root of the problem. The lumbar spine and the core are the center of our daily movements. If there is movement dysfunction happening above or below, the low back can take the brunt of it. In most cases, getting a full picture of how you move on a daily basis will provide more information than an MRI.

5. KEEP MOVING!

The lumbar spine is meant to move. By keeping a stiff, protected position of your spine you are preventing it from getting the good, natural motion it needs. Now, don’t push it into extreme pain, but in general, stretching and mobility exercises will make it feel better as it likes when it is able to move how it is supposed to.

NOW WHAT?!

At this point you're probably thinking, "well, what do I do about it?" Luckily, we can help! Stay tuned to your email for helpful tips to take care of your back pain or check out our blog for more in depth information!

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