Back Pain Solutions

Many sufferers of back pain will report experiencing pain in areas away from the low back itself, which is known as referred pain. Referred pain is the result of the extensive nervous system which supplies sensory nerves to many tissues in the low back, pelvis and thigh. As a result, an injury to any of these structures can cause pain to radiate to any of the other tissues. The brain is unable to...

The global research is compelling when we consider the number of cases of obesity, heart disease and other ‘lifestyle’ based diseases. It seems that people are not prepared to take a proactive approach to the management of their health and wellbeing. The incidence of chronic disease is increasing, and healthcare costs are rising as we try to manage the cases of ‘self-inflicted’ illness across the...

Many back pain sufferers report waking with pain, or experiencing tightness, in the lower back when they first rise in the morning. But why is that the case, and why should we be mindful of our back health when we wake, after all we’ve been off our feet all night?! Are people taking conscious action to set themselves up for the day ahead when considering their back health? Are you doing anything t...

One of the fundamental issues with the back-pain epidemic is the sedentary nature of the lives that we lead. A lack of conditioning of the key muscles throughout the core is leading to micro-movements in the spine leading to injury, and pain. Micro-movements occur due to a lack of stability throughout the spine which needs to be resolved if any underlying tissue damage is to be resolved because ot...

Previously in this series of four episodes we discussed the importance of taking an active role in your recovery. Every day, across the world, people are doing things, people are moving, in ways that are having a negative impact on their back health. What movements are you doing each day that could be impacting your back health and causing discomfort? What are the things that you’re doing each day...

When recovering from a low back injury you need to take the appropriate steps in order to recover effectively and build tolerance in the long term. Far too often people rely on passive treatment alone to support their recovery, without understanding that the simple things they’re doing every day are often contributing to the problem!! How can you get better if every day you’re aggravating your bac...

When we are injured, we are often blinded from the pain and disability which leads us to do things that are not good for our recovery. Oftentimes we are desperate and through frustration we end up taking the wrong approach. This often leads to the injury not getting better and, in many cases, becoming a chronic issue. When this happens, we lose confidence in our bodies and start accepting that it...

Bone broth has been used in traditional cooking for many years to create great tasting dishes. Indeed, evidence exists that soup was consumed in some form over 20,000 years ago and in some cultures, hens were reared specifically for making soup with the meat being used for other dishes. However, aside from the culinary benefits, bone broth has a range of health benefits due to its nutritional prof...

The deadlift is a common exercise performed at gyms across the globe. From fitness enthusiasts to professional athletes the deadlift is often incorporated into training programmes because of the compound muscles it recruits, its focus on the posterior chain and because it is considered a classic benchmark for overall strength! However, the deadlift exercise requires good technique to be performed...

Research demonstrates that the anti-aging market is growing at a compound rate of 7.8% between 2013-2019 and a total market value above $281 billion. Whether it be fasting, bouillon, supplements, cold showers, or many of the other lifestyle and dietary changes now known to improve the functioning of your body, the anti aging market is becoming ever more popular as people continue to seek ways to i...

During any daily routine we all have to perform key activities that enable us to get simple things done. From sitting on the toilet to picking things off the floor, the squat is a fundamental movement that we all perform whether we realise it or not. However, this movement is often executed poorly with a risk to back health. Squatting is a hugely beneficial movement to master in order to be in a p...

When does back pain start in pregnancy? In our previous episode we discussed how many women experience back pain during the early stages of pregnancy as a result of physiological changes that can impact soft tissues resulting in an increase in the risk of low back pain and low back injury. As pregnancy develops there are physical changes that influence the biomechanics of the lower back, as well a...

Many women experience back pain during pregnancy. Indeed, back pain pregnancy statistics suggest that 85% of women will experience back pain at some stage during pregnancy. So, should women simply accept they will experience back pain during pregnancy or are there strategies that can be employed to reduce the risk of pain and even avoid it altogether?  In this episode we discuss some of the physio...

WHEN IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO EXERCISE WHEN YOU HAVE PAIN?   Bed rest has been well documented to have a negative impact on the recovery from back injury and indeed the research demonstrates that this approach can worsen the underlying issue. But should we be resting as part of our recovery? Is exercise always beneficial, and should we be doing exercise at all? What is the difference between doing exe...

WHAT BACK PAIN RELIEF PRODUCTS ARE THERE AND DO THEY PROVIDE BACK PAIN RELIEF? Have you seen advertisements online recommending various different products to help provide back pain relief, or solve your back ache? Have you considered buying any of these so-called back pain relief products? Do you think such products could help with your back pain treatment and have you thought about how they work...

We often see the back brace, and other back support products, promoted to provide support for people suffering from lower back pain. But does a back brace help? Should you be considering a lower back brace, or belt, for the management of your back injury? And if so when should you consider wearing a back brace? In this episode we discuss the use of the back brace, and more specifically here, the b...

Many patients are advised to do stretches for their lower back pain, including yoga based exercise and pilates. There is a lot of confusion from patients regarding the stretches that should be considered to support the management of lower back pain but should stretches be considered at all and can they even have a negative impact on back health?.  In this episode we discuss the research regarding...

When you consider treatment for your lower back pain what do you expect? Do you expect to leave the appointment with clear answers and a resolution after one treatment? How long do you expect it to take before you're out of pain and do you expect that once you’re out of pain that it will never return? As a patient, experiencing back pain is a frightening experience and at the very least you should...

HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR BACK WHEN IN LOCKDOWN FOR DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC?   The UK’s children seem to be working to keep fit with Joe Wicks, and the parks that are open are still full of runners, but for a lot of people the coronavirus lockdown has resulted in greater levels of inactivity, insomnia, alcohol consumptions and back pain according to a recent survey. Clearly the current lockdo...

Ever wondered what the differences are between osteopathy and chiropractic? How will a physiotherapist treat your back pain compared to other practitioners? And which therapist should I see for my back pain? These are common questions that we get asked by patients and the answer is not as straightforward as you may think it should be. There are no doubt crossovers between the different therapies s...

Building resilience, building core strength, and developing a healthy spine takes effort. For some people, getting out of pain, establishing the required movement patterns, and understanding how they remain pain free, is the key goal. But like with other pursuits, some people will be focussed on mastery, and continuing the journey to advanced movement resilience. Advanced resilience is not require...

YOU have to take control of your back health. YOU must commit to taking actions that will contribute to a healthy spine, and aid recovery from injury. You CAN’T expect to see a healthcare professional and get better without adopting some simple principles that are fundamentally important to back health.  In this episode we discuss how individuals can start to build movement resilience in order to...

In modern society how many people can honestly say that they move with freedom and confidence? Do people really feel they have the capacity to execute movements, whatever they may be, without being concerned that they may injure themselves in the process? How can people get to a position where they feel they can move with confidence, and feel strong within themselves? These are the questions we an...

Most people would not expect their food choices to have an influence on pain and recovery. However, research demonstrates that nutrition can have an impact on inflammation as well as overall health. So how does nutrition affect our recovery, and what food choices should we be considering to help manage inflammation? In this episode we discuss the impact of nutrition on pain and recovery. Just how...

Everyone understands how pain feels but just when does an initial episode of pain become a chronic issue? Why do some people experience pain for sustained periods of time whilst others do not? What are the physiological mechanisms that cause chronic pain, and is that different to acute pain? These are questions we look to answer in this episode of the Back Pain Solutions podcast.  In this episode...