Low back pain is a common and debilitating condition which massage therapists treat every day.  While low back pain is one of the most prevalent afflictions in our society, the causes are varied, and treatment approach will vary based not only on the symptoms, but also the root cause of the problem.

"Back strain" appears to be the most common cause of low back pain, and is quite a generic term.  There are other causes of low back pain, and it is very important to identify the cause and contributing factors to create a successful treatment plan.

I have narrowed down the causes for low back pain into 4 broad categories which include several different conditions.  

Low back pain cause – Muscle strain
Also referred to as a "pulled muscle", this happens when muscles are overused, weak or fatigued. Muscles can also be torn from an injury, and of course, the more serious the damage, the longer it will take to heal …


Low back pain cause – Joint and bone dysfunction
This type of back pain is often referred to as "mechanical back pain" or "mechanical dysfunction" when referring specifically to the joints.  What this means is that a joint is not able to move as it is meant to, either from injury to the bone or joint, or hypertonicity of the surrounding muscles.  Unfortunately, this can lead to several other issues and can be a self-perpetuating cycle if left untreated, often causing seemingly unrelated problems.

Of course, bones and joints can also be affected by fractures, breaks, arthritis and a multitude of other conditions which is well beyond the scope of massage therapy to diagnose. Massage therapy can, however, be used to alleviate symptoms and assist in recovery.

Low back pain cause – neurological
Low back pain from a neurological source can be a result of a variety of triggers, all of which are related to either the intervertebral disc, spinal cord, or the "nerve roots" as they exit the spinal cord.  This type of pain can be excruciating and very debilitating, as anyone with a "slipped disc" will tell you.  (this is a bit of a misnomer, and will be addressed in upcoming articles). This type of low back pain usually presents as symptoms in the area which the affected nerve root supplies, so the location of the symptoms is really dependant on the nerve root "level" where the injury or restriction happened.  Pain which occurs in one area but originates from dysfunction in another area is called "referred" or "referral" pain.

Low back pain cause – visceral referral
In some cases pain can be a result of a dysfunction or infection of an internal organ.  This happens because the "nociceptors" (pain receptors) of an organ are irritated and the pain is either felt in the skin or tissue which is superficial to the organ, or in a classic "referral pattern".

If a person is not aware of any activity or cause of the pain, or if the pain has been present for any length of time, I would urge you to see a physician immediately to rule out anything more serious than a muscular cause for the pain.  Once the origin of pain has been determined, an effective treatment plan can be put in place.

Jodi Forsythe – Read my other articles
Featured author for gymtechnik.com – The webs leading online and mobile fitness tracking service

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Jodi Forsythe has been a Registered Massage Therapist since 2000, after having completed a 2200-hour training program in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. For more information about Jodi and massage therapy, please check out her website and blog http://www.whymassagetherapy.com/blog.

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