The following pages have been dedicated to the management of back pain. While in the majority of cases it is not possible to identify the primary cause for back pain, there are several broad categories that have been associated with the acute and chronic presentation of back pain. It is generally accepted that the majority of chronic intermittent back pain is related to myofascial pain syndrome. This type of back pain is also the most amiable to self-management. More information on myofascial back pain is located under “Back pain and Trigger points.” Information related to back pain caused by disk disease, as well as acute muscle strain and facet joint is discussed in “Common Causes of Back Pain.” The above mentioned sections cover the most frequently encountered pathologies of back pain, as well as the main symptoms, causes, and treatment guidelines for these conditions.
Several noninvasive treatment approaches have been used successfully for the treatment of back pain. These include acupuncture, dry needling, acupressure, and stretching among others. Click on the tab “Treatment options” for more details about each of these modalities and how they can benefit you.Studies estimate that 75–85% of local muscular pain is due to myofascial pain and trigger points. Many trigger points refer pain far from their origin. Understanding referral pathways of the most common trigger points involved in back pain, allows you to focus therapies on the most likely affected muscle groups. Click on the tab “Back pain & Trigger Point” for more details.A guide to individual muscles that have been most frequently involved in back pain can be found under the tab “Which muscles are involved”. Search for the individual muscles based on the location of your pain, but also based on the activities that cause or worsen your back pain.Recovering from acute or recently worsened chronic back pain can be a very frustrating experience since the length of time varies among individuals. Information that will help you understand what can hinder your recovery, but also strategies to help you recover faster, can be found under the tab "Optimize your recovery".
The information provided on these pages is not intended to treat or diagnose any condition and should be viewed solely for the purpose of education. By no means is this information replacing evaluation by a qualified health care provider. For detailed Terms and Conditions, as well the use of cookies by this website, please see the sections “Terms and Conditions” and “Privacy.”
