Over 80% of people will experience some form of low back pain during their lifetime, and it is the leading cause of disability in workers under the age of 40.1 Many countries and organizations have released Clinical Practice Guidelines to layout the best practices for treating patients with low back pain. Your doctors can then take these guidelines based on the research and apply it to your individual needs.
Acute Low Back Pain
Acute low back pain lasts for 12 weeks or less. Most back pain falls into this category. Symptoms can begin suddenly or gradually. The most commonly recommended treatments for acute low back pain in various clinical practice guidelines are therapeutic exercise, NSAIDs, and spinal manipulation.
In various fields of clinical expertise, the guidelines consistently endorse therapeutic exercise, NSAIDs, spinal manipulation, and staying active as key treatments.
-Zhou, et al. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Chronic Low Back Pain
Back pain lasting longer than longer than 12 weeks is considered chronic. There can be many contributing factors to chronic low back pain: arthritis, stenosis, scoliosis, an inflammatory disease, or lifestyle factors. Some common examples include:
-low physical activity levels
-smoking
-obesity
-poor postural habits
Treatment depends on the underlying factors in each individual case, but often involves a similar combination of treatments to acute low back pain.
A mechanical musculoskeletal issue requires a mechanical solution.
-Jeff Langmaid, The Evidence Based Chiropractor
Impact of Low Back Pain on Daily Life
Low back pain of any duration can significantly impact daily life by making routine tasks challenging, such as bending, lifting, or even sitting for extended periods. In some cases low back pain can also lead to emotional distress, affecting mood and relationships, and may result in decreased productivity, extended work absences, and even social isolation.
Regardless of how long you have had low back pain, we would be happy to work with you to create a personalized plan, tailored specifically to address your unique needs and alleviate your discomfort. Give our office a call today to schedule an appointment and take the first step towards becoming pain-free!
- Foster, N. E., Anema, J. R., Cherkin, D., Chou, R., Cohen, S. P., Gross, D. P., … & Woolf, A. (2018). Prevention and treatment of low back pain: evidence, challenges, and promising directions. The Lancet, 391(10137), 2368-2383.
- Zhou, T., Salman, D. & McGregor, A.H. Recent clinical practice guidelines for the management of low back pain: a global comparison. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 25, 344 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-024-07468-0
Lamb Chiropractic CNY 