Back pain is normal and very common. In fact, 80per centof people will experience an episode of back pain during their lifetime and the overall prevalence of lower back pain is found to be higherin womenthan in men. Ouch!
In happier news, most people will also see a significant improvement in their symptoms within the first two weeks of an acute episode of back pain and an estimated 85 per cent of people are fully recovered by three months. Only a very small number of people develop longstanding, chronic problems.
Pain is a complex phenomenon and may involve actual or potential tissue damage, but it is the alarm system of our body and it certainly demands our attention. When we experience pain, the alarm is telling your body that there is potential danger, but due to the complex nature of pain, it doesn’t always correlate to damage.
Think about how much a paper cut hurts compared to a bruise. The paper cut doesn’t look damaging but it hurts like hell while a bruise may look serious and may not hurt at all.
So, ladies, what should you do if you experience back pain?
Scans are rarely needed
Many BP and LBP patients are wrongly sent in for a scan to rule out anything sinister, which is time-consuming and often costly! Evidence suggests that scans only show something relevant and potentially disabling in less than 5 per cent of people with back pain. Too many health professionals are ‘scan happy’.
The results of X-ray, MRI and CT scans don’t typically correlate to the symptoms and can be detrimental to the healing process, as they increase a patient’s fear and avoidance of activity.
Scans are only 100% necessary when a clinical exam reveals red flags. However, scans for low-scale back pain without indication of serious underlying conditions (red flags) have not been shown to improve outcomes and often show up things that are not linked with the pain they are scanning. These pathologies are often more an indication of ageing and genetics rather than serious damage.
MYTHS BUSTED
Denne historien er fra Issue 100-utgaven av Oxygen Magazine Australia.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Issue 100-utgaven av Oxygen Magazine Australia.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Sun's Out, Guns Out!
Use one or both these biceps exercises to build a strong, buff set of pipes — just in time for tank-top season.
The Power Of Meditation
You exercise your body, but what about your mind? Check out the range of benefits meditating can have on your body and your brain.
Fitmas Gift Guide
Christmas is the perfect time to give your friends, family or even yourself a gift that will keep on giving. Oxygen has found the best deals for you and your loved ones to be on your merry (and fit) way this Christmas. With health and fitness related gifts, you can all start 2018 inspired, empowered and ready to go after your biggest goals.
Five Minutes With... Jamie Eason
Five Minutes With... Jamie Eason
So What's All The Fuss About Collagen?
You’ve probably heard of it, but have no idea of the benefits it can provide. Could collagen be the missing link in your health and fitness regime?
The Doctor's Guide To Plant-based Nutrition
Are you getting enough protein? Switching to a plant-based diet certainly has its benefits, but doing it safely is something many overlook. Oxygen’s resident doctor and Sumo Salad Ambassador Dr Zac unpacks the facts and shares his tips for the transition to a plant-based diet.
Fit Pregnancy Tips From A Fitness Model Mum
The female body is an incredible machine of restoration and resilience. And while it is certainly necessary to slow down as our bodies experience the changes of pregnancy, humans were built to move. Oxygen ambassador Amelia Ricci reminds us why moving our bodies shouldn’t cease after conception.
Setting The Record Straight On Hemp
What was once a controversial crop and is now commonplace in every hipster café across the country, hemp was given the green light in Australia in late 2017 and for good reason. Emerging from the shadow of its whacky cousin, Oxygen has the lowdown on why this superfood deserves its time in the spotlight.
Codeine who?
Natural Alternatives to Pain Medication.
Top Transit Tips For Health Conscious Jetsetters
Why is it that as soon as you hit the airport, all motivation to eat healthily and train regularly goes out the window? Suddenly the caramel slice or Big Mac, that would never have crossed your mind before beginning your holiday venture, becomes too hard to resist (tell us we’re not the only ones?!). It’s certainly important to enjoy our holidays and take a break from hardcore training and diet regimes. But in a world full of jetsetters who are travelling more and more frequently, it pays to be a little mindful of moving your body regularly and watching what you fuel with!
