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Injury advice > Buttock Injuries > Lower back pain

Lower Back Pain

This is very common and can be classified into acute lower back pain and mild to moderate lower back pain. Making a precise diagnosis of a specific back injury or condition which might be causing lower back pain is not always possible. There is, however, management and treatment available.

Patients with the following conditions can often be diagnosed.

  • Direct trauma fractures. Often this is obvious by its association with soft tissue injury.
  • Pain radiating down to a specific part of the leg may be caused by nerve route compression.
  • Spondylolysthesis or stress fracture of the pars interarticularis.
  • Spinal canal stenosis (more usually seen in older athletes).

The above conditions are thought to account for less than 10% of lower back pain. Back pain can be categorized into severe or acute low back pain and mild to moderate low back pain. Most people have mild or moderate low back pain.

Acute low back pain

Minor movements such as bending over can bring severe low back pain on suddenly. The pain may increase over a couple of hours as inflammation develops. Pain can radiate into the buttocks but normally is located in the lumbar area of the spine

Mild or moderate low back pain

This is generally associated with chronic or long term back problems. The duration of this problem often causes pain not only from the initial injury and joints in the back but also from other structures in particular soft tissue such as muscles contribute to the pain.

If the muscles of the back are left after an injury they will tighten, weaken or adaptively shorten causing changes in posture or movement. This can make the injury worse.

What are the symptoms of moderate low back pain?

  • A constant or intermittent aching pain in the back.
  • There can be pain on either side, both sides or in the center. The most usual complaint is that the pain is in a band all the way across the lower back.
  • The hamstrings and buttocks may also be painful.
  • Possibly a reduction in the range of motion.
  • The 'slump test' may increase pain or show restricted movement.
  • Tenderness over the spinus processes.
  • There may be lower than normal mobility in one or more of the intervertibral segments.
  • Possible muscle spasms in the lower back and buttocks.

Common back injuries and conditions

Nerve root compression / Intervertibral Disc Injury / Slipped Disc (Sciatica)

Sacroiliac joint injury / inflammation

Muscular Trigger Points

Spondylolysthesis

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Please see the Virtual Sports Injury Clinic for more information on how to treat Lower Back Pain