Back Pain

Spine consists of vertebras. If the vertebras are displaced and the spinal nerve roots are irritated, pain and lower limb numbness would be reported, and more severe symptoms like sciatica, incontinence and lower limb muscles atrophy would be encountered.

腰痛原因可分為急性和慢性兩種

急性腰痛：原因多數是因為意外創傷或錯誤姿勢引起，另外，肥胖、壓力大、患有骨質疏鬆症等都有可能造成急性腰背痛。一些突然間的動作都會引致肌肉過度拉扯而令背肌負荷增加；肌肉一時間反應不及，未能迅速正確去收縮保護脊椎，迫使肌肉和韌帶過度拉緊或撕裂。

慢性腰痛：原因多數是因為積累性傷害，年老、長期姿勢錯誤或經常背負重物，引致腰椎逐漸衰退。姿勢錯誤容易造成脊骨錯位，因而迫使神經受壓引起腰背痛，影響手腳活動能力，甚至行路或站立的時間過長腰部會感到痠痛及無力。椎間盤突出、坐骨神經痛（被困的神經）或強直性脊柱炎等醫療狀況有時會導致腰背痛。在極少數情況下，腰背痛可能是嚴重問題的徵兆，例如骨折、癌症或感染。

Warning signs of back pain

Pain and repetitive strain injuries are extremely common if workstations are not set up ergonomically, forcing workers to work with unnatural posture for an extended period of time. Long working hours with unnatural postures can lead to high muscle tension. If the situation deteriorates, workers will feel pain beginning from the shoulder into the neck. Headaches might also occur later, which can indicate cervical spine misalignments. If there is osteophyte (bone spur) growth and nerve roots are irritated or compressed, pain and numbness will emerge along the upper limbs. Dizziness, photophobia and muscle atrophy can develop in severe cases.

Tips to keep back pain away

To prevent from low back pain, it is necessary to pay attention to daily postures.

1. Maintain a good sitting and standing position

2. Pay attention to the posture when carrying heavy objects

3. Regular exercise

To help Spine and Physiotherapist diagnose the source of back pain, be specific in describing the type of pain, when it started, related symptoms, and any history of chronic conditions. Your Spine and Physiotherapist may order X-rays or MRI scans to look for damaged bones or discs, or other injuries to the spine.

Spine and Physiotherapist use spinal manipulation to treat low back pain by applying pressure with their hands to bones and surrounding tissues. For some cases, short wave diathermy, heat treatment, lumbar traction, interferential therapy would be used for muscle relaxation and symptomatic relief. And also the Spine and Physiotherapy F & D 3D spinal traction machine can apply traction force, releases and twisting force on the spine, help fix the spinal displacement.