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Compression-related low back pain

Compression-related low back pain, is, according to Professor emeritus Dr Stuart McGill, the world’s foremost spinal expert, more common than realised.

It involves damage to the end plate of the disc, and results in a deep, more boring type of pain.  It usually results in people who weight train, and progress too quickly, or in jobs where heavy lifting and vibration occurs, such as delivery and forklift drivers, or furniture removalists.  Runners, especially long distance runners, and people involved in jumping sports are could also develop compression-related low back pain.  Gymnastics, with its high impact landings, are another sport where this type of injury occurs.  A simple fall onto the buttocks could also cause this injury, especially if from a height.

Endplate damage can be thought of as a vertical herniation. Compression-related back pain can often be modulated by core stiffness. In some cases, increased core stability in the initial stages makes the issue worse, which is why accurate assessment is vital.

it's time to get your life back

Compression-related back pain doesn’t mean a life in pain. End plate damage doesn’t occur from a once-off incident –  it is the result of the repetitive sub-failure loading in the previous months and years that gradually lowers the tissue failure threshold.

Simply, previous movement and loading habits are at fault.  These movement habits may have also resulted in muscle weakness and incorrect motor patterns, which are the way the nervous system recruits muscles to perform a particular task. 

Dysfunctional movement and motor patterns may be simply habit, or the result of mobility restrictions or previous/current injury.

How we work

A thorough history and assessment will reveal mechanisms of injury, which can include poor movement patterns, dysfunctional motor patterns, muscle weakness, mobility restrictions, perturbed postures and inappropriate loads.  

Rehabilitation focuses on first removing pain-causing motions, postures and loads, developing appropriate core stability, teaching better movement patterns and re-establishing correct motor patterns, addressing mobility restrictions and then increasing strength and restoring proprioception, as determined by your goals and needs.

failure isn't an option

There is no such thing as non-specific back pain. Accurate assessment provides an accurate diagnosis, and the rehabilitation plan going forward.  

Machine-based training and other systems fail to account for faulty movement patterns, strengthen the body with unnatural movements, fail to allow for nervous system control and ultimately fail when demand exceeds capacity.

At Functional Low Back rehab, returning to your favourite activities and sports is a benchmark for success. 

 

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our location

Conveniently located to service Wantirna, Ferntree Gully, Rowville and Vermont.  Experience the best low back pain treatment and rehabilitation with Functional Low Back Rehab.

Bookings by appointment only: Call 0403768537