Help For Lower Back Pain – North Adelaide Orthotics
Lower back pain is commonly the result of fallen or low arches is a common condition seen in our orthotic shop. North Adelaide Orthotics offer custom orthotic solutions for a range of painful problems throughout our local and surrounding Walkerville, Medindie, Bowden and Croydon communities.
What is Lower Back Pain?
Lower back pain will affect 80% of the population at some time in their lives and is the single most common complaint we see at our practice. Approximately half of these 80% will suffer further episodes of lower back pain if not treated correctly.
The lower back or lumbar spine is most efficient in supporting the upper body when kept in a very specific posture, known as lumbar lordosis. Patients typically present with either an increased or decreased lordosis. Such a change in lumbar lordosis places overload upon the supporting joints, muscles, and connective tissue resulting in biomechanical dysfunction which may lead to structural changes over time. The most effective way to resolve lower back pain is by understanding the condition and addressing the underlying causes.
Causes of Lower Back Pain
There are many causes of lower back pain, however the most common are biomechanical dysfunction and poor posture.
Important factors to consider include:
- Inherent factors such as a leg length inequality
- Lower limb biomechanical dysfunction
- Lumbar spine dysfunction
- Uneven loading of the spine and muscular tissues due to poor posture
At The Orthotic Shop, we place particular importance upon the role of poor lower limb alignment and the impact this has upon lower spine biomechanics. The most commonly presenting lower limb biomechanical dysfunction is over pronation (or flat feet) which causes a cascade effect from ankle to lumbar spine and beyond. As the foot rolls in, the shin and thigh follow which in turn leads to forward pelvic tilt and an increased lumbar lordosis. Increased lordosis leads to muscular imbalances in the hips and lower back which in turn causes pain.
The most common causes of biomechanical back pain are:
- Foot structure (both high arch and flat feet)
- Poor foot posture (feet roll in when you walk)
- Excessive weight or sudden weight gain
- Poor footwear
- Muscular imbalances
Signs You May Have Posture Related Lower Back Pain
Posture related lower back pain has a defined set of symptoms. If you suffer from back pain (dull pain that increases in intensity over time) after standing for a prolonged duration it is likely that you are suffering from a lumbar spine postural syndrome.
The most common signs and symptoms of postural lumbar spine pain are:
- Lumbar spine pain gets worse with sustained postures
- No lumbar spine pain when laying down
- Ankle, knee or hip pain
- You are over the age of 35 years and have increasingly flat feet
Management of Lower Back Pain
In order to successfully manage lower back pain, it is important to address the cause of the problem rather than simply managing the symptoms. Employing the latest technology and biomechanical assessment techniques, we are able to identify those tissues under excessive load allowing us to develop a comprehensive treatment plan to address your specific needs. Typically your plan will involve biomechanical correction, self-management strategies, and modalities that address any structural imbalance.
Treatment options for lower back pain include:
- Soft tissue mobilisation
- Spinal mobilisation
- Stretching and strengthening
- Weight loss
- Motion control running shoes
- Electrophysical agents (cold therapy or heat therapy)
- Orthotics
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Strapping
Action Steps
To help improve your lower back pain and ensure that you get back to your best as quickly as possible, the following steps can be taken:
- Watch the self-assessment video and analyse your foot posture.
- Consider the causes of low arches above, and determine which may be relevant to your particular situation.
- Arrange a free lower limb biomechanical assessment (valued at $79). Simply click on the free gait analysis button below to download your free voucher and start addressing your pain today.
