Skip to main content

Common causes of back pain

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that 1 in 6 Australians suffered from back problems in 2017-18. That’s more than 3 million people.

Back pain can have a significant impact on day-to-day life. It can stop you from doing the things you want to do, like exercise and recreation. And it can affect your family life too. Not just because you’re less mobile and can’t, say, pick up your children, but also because of the more subtle effects. Living with pain can affect your mood. It can make you less tolerant of others. Things you may have thought amusing before back pain may be less funny now. And those around you, especially your children, may not understand what’s changed.

Why is back pain so common?

Your back is a complex structure made of 33 vertebrae and 23 discs, held together by ligaments and connected to many muscles. Together, they provide support to your body and protection for your spinal cord. When you consider the sheer number of working parts and connections, it’s easy to understand why back pain is so common.

What causes back pain?

The causes of back pain vary significantly. It can occur as a result of posture or injury but also be caused by disease. And the chance of suffering from it increases as you age, if you’re overweight or if you smoke.

Can Osteopathy help back pain?

If you are suffering from back pain, you should consider a visit to an osteopath. It is a unique health practice that recognises the link between the structure of the body and the way it functions. It revolves around a core belief that if one part of the body is restricted, then the rest of the body must adapt and compensate. Osteopaths have an in-depth knowledge of anatomy and will always look to find the root cause of a problem rather than just treat the symptoms.

An osteopath at Relinque Sports & Spinal Group in Ivanhoe can treat back pain as well as a range of other disorders. Their focus will be on your whole body, not just your back. Once they’ve made a full medical assessment to identify the root cause of the problem, they will use a number of hands-on methods including spinal manipulation, soft tissue massage and stretching—among others—and their gentle approach makes it suitable for a wide range of people and conditions.

If you’re suffering from back pain, call Relinque Sports & Spinal Group on 03 9499 9644!