LOWER BACK PAIN IN RUNNERS

Low Back Pain Assessment

In your initial assessment, your treating practitioner will start by asking you a number of important questions related to the nature of your pain. These questions are vital in ruling out the presence of any serious pathology. In the majority of cases, there is no serious structural cause of back pain. This is referred to as “Non-Specific Low Back Pain”, whereby the cause of pain cannot be attributed to a single structure, and is usually as a result of sensitisation of soft tissue in the area.

Hurt doesn’t equal Harm

While the pain associated with low back pain is often very intense, it is vital to understand that the spine is an incredibly strong structure that needs to move in order to stay healthy. Pain does not necessarily equate to any tissues being damaged. If you are concerned about your back and the discomfort it is causing, your physiotherapist or chiropractor can guide you through a gradual progression of movements to get you back to full, pain free movement in the shortest time possible. 

Movement is Medicine

During your initial assessment, your treating practitioner will gain a thorough understanding of your current movement ability and individually tailor an exercise program to your current functional level. This may be as simple as rocking your knees from side to side or as complex as a barbell deadlift, importantly, it will be individually tailored to you and what your back needs. This, along with hands on treatment, will help to reduce the discomfort you are experiencing and help get you back doing the things that you love and more.

Some simple exercises that you can complete to keep your lower back moving include:

Training with Back Pain

One of the most common questions asked by athletes suffering from an episode of back pain is “can I continue to train?”, whether this being in the context of running or another physical activity. Many people are concerned that by continuing to train, they will either not allow their back time to rest and recover or will make matters worse by doing more damage. The answer to this question is personalised to each athlete in the context of their symptoms, their aggravating activities and their goals. This is a complex balance of considerations that should be made collaboratively between the treating therapist and the individual to help achieve their goals. 

The pain associated with Lower Back Pain can be overwhelming, and with the added impact it can have to your normal training schedule can result in a great deal of distress for many athletes and a feeling of helplessness. If your life or your training is being impacted by your back pain, our team of physiotherapists and chiropractors are here to help you every step of the way, starting with getting you out of pain, working to create a detailed and individualised plan to help prevent recurrence and keep you performing at your best. 

Coen Andrew

Physiotherapist and Coach

PEAK Sports And Spine Centre