Do you experience lower back pain? Recent articles have labeled the increase in lower back pain as an international epidemic. According to studies, 25% of Australians suffer from regular pain in their lower back. Many attribute this widespread issue to the excessive number of hours we spend sitting—at desks, in cars, and on couches. Consider this typical daily breakdown: eight hours of sleep, one hour of exercise (if we’re lucky), two hours of incidental activity, and a staggering thirteen hours of sitting.
Causes of lower back pain
Sitting at a desk, lifting children in and out of cars, bending over to pick up a slightly too-heavy box, or even just leaning over to spit out toothpaste are actions we repeat so often that they should be executed correctly to avoid stress on our backs. However, many of us do not maintain a healthy lifting posture and tend to use the wrong muscle groups in our daily activities. This repetitive misuse can lead to significant back pain and discomfort.
Tips for immediate relief from back pain
If you start feeling tightness in your spine, it's beneficial to get up and move around. Here are a few immediate actions you can take:
- Go for a short walk to alleviate stiffness.
- Stretch out your gluteal muscles to relieve tension.
- Stand up periodically rather than remaining seated for extended periods.
- Use a massage ball against the wall to loosen up tight spots in your buttocks.
Osteopathy can help fix your back pain
Osteopathy offers a hands-on approach to assessing, treating and managing your lower back pain. By addressing both the symptoms and the causes of your injury an Osteo at the Enso Clinic can devise a personalised treatment plan to get your out of pain and back to moving freely in no time.
If you live in Melbourne's inner south-east (around Toorak) make a booking or call our Osteopathy team at the Enso Clinic on Beatty Avenue in Armadale, our experienced and caring team are here to assist in your recovery.
Osteopathy treatment techniques for lower back pain
At the Enso Clinic, our osteopaths employ a variety of techniques to ease your discomfort:
- Loosening tight joints: We target the stiff joints that restrict muscle function.
- Muscle stretching: We stretch tight muscles that contribute to discomfort and limited mobility.
- Movement encouragement: We help your body move as it should through guided exercises and adjustments.
- Education on dos and don’ts: We provide advice on how to manage back pain through everyday actions, helping you to avoid further injury.
- Dry needling: This technique involves inserting thin needles into specific points around the spine and lower back to release knots and relieve muscle pain.
- Cupping: By creating suction on the skin, cupping therapy helps increase blood flow and relieve muscle tension, which can significantly ease back pain.
Preventing lower back pain through an osteopathic treatment plan
Prevention is just as important as treatment. We offer personalised exercises that you can do at home to strengthen your back and prevent future pain. These exercises are especially helpful if your pain is severe and you’re unable to visit us immediately.
Osteo is the answer to your back pain
If you're experiencing lower back pain, don't wait for it to worsen. Contact a health professional at the Enso Clinic to discuss how osteopathy can help you. We're dedicated to ensuring that your back—and your overall health—is looked after with the best care possible.
Contact the Enso Clinic in Armadale today and start your journey toward a pain-free life. Call or book online to schedule your appointment now and let us help you move better and live healthier.