Back Pain Solutions

For most people the first signs of any issue with their back health will be a result of the back pain they experience. But what exactly is pain? What is happening in the body to cause the discomfort you experience? Is pain actually helpful, and how can it be managed effectively?  In this episode we introduce the concept of pain. How does tissue injury create a chain reaction that is ultimately int...

What should a young rugby player consider if they’re looking to introduce Crossfit as part of their training regimen? Why should a consideration for hip mobility be an important factor when being introduced to Crossfit, and why is it important to review movement patterns even in active, athletic, individuals? Answers to these questions in today’s episode of the back solutions podcast. In this epis...

Should a 75-year-old patient expect to get better from an episode of back pain whilst experiencing an improvement in their fitness, as part of a rehabilitation program? And just how important is it that you stop doing exercises that you’re undertaking to lose weight if they’re having a negative influence on your back health? In this episode we introduce some case studies in order to put some of th...

When thinking about spine health, and back pain, very few people would consider that the shoulder could play a role. However, the shoulder is a unique joint, and is not just the point where the upper arm is attached to the body! The upper arm attaches to the glenoid, a part of the scapula (the shoulder blade), which itself is attached to the ribs by a number of different muscles. The shoulder is i...

Movement should not take place through the spine but from the hip joints. The hip is a powerful, and very stable joint, which we must use to our advantage when performing any activity, whether that be walking to the shops, or training in the gym. If utilised effectively it should provide us with a very stable platform for movement. Often there is a lack of awareness about the importance of the hip...

There are many muscles that can contribute to spine stability but some are less well known compared to the anterior abdominal wall, and the posterior group of muscles in the back. There are a number of muscles that are unique in contributing to spine health, and stability, as well as muscles that are more familiar to us which are not often considered when discussing spinal stability. So which musc...

Whilst we need to think of the core muscles as an orchestra, the posterior group of muscles plays an important role in resisting shear movement of the spine, that is the movement of one vertebrae over the top of another anteriorly. It is an important muscle group in relation to back pain, and back health. Out of all of the muscles that contribute to the core it is the posterior group of muscles th...

Muscles play an important role in protecting the spine from injury by helping to RESIST movement. In most cases we think of the muscles as contributing to movement; allowing us to walk, run and execute other movements. However, when referring to spine health the muscles should be viewed as a ‘guidewire system’, that when under tension, contribute to stability of the spine by preventing movement. T...

Without training the muscles around the spine we do not have the resilience we need to prevent injury. We can’t rely on the passive tissues of the body to keep the spine stable. Without an appreciation for the muscles that contribute to spine stability it will be very challenging for individuals who suffer from back pain to make improvements in the long term.  In this episode we discuss the role o...

The intervertebral disc is an important structure that is present between each vertebral body of the spine. There are 23 discs in total throughout the spine and whilst movement potential at each level is relatively small, the combined potential allows us great freedom to perform many activities. However, it is a structure that must be respected, as it is vulnerable to injury so it is important tha...

Back pain is the second most common cause of complaint in GP practices and the global incidence of back pain is on the rise. It’s now estimated that 80% of the global population will experience an episode of low back pain at some point in their lives! So why is it that the incidence of back pain is on the rise? Should we be concerned about the sedentary nature of our lives? And what can we do to a...

The intervertebral discs can be considered ‘spacers’ that are present between each vertebral body of the spinal column. Each disc is comprised of tough rings of fibrous tissue called collagen. In the centre of each disc is contained a nucleus which is a gel like material, which is under pressure, and gives the disc the ability to bend. The intervertebral disc is an important structure, and vulnera...

The global incidence of back is on the rise, the number of people suffering over the longer term is increasing, and there is no single approach to curing back pain. However, back pain always has a cause, and if we can successfully teach people to understand their backs, and know the likely cause then we can help them to work their way out of pain, build strength, and get back to the activities the...