Understanding Acute Non-Specific Low Back Pain

Ok let’s talk about low back pain… specifically the most common type often referred to as…

Acute non-specific low back pain!

A thread… 🧵 pic.twitter.com/EREBecyxsn

— The Sp⚽️rts Physio (@AdamMeakins) April 10, 2023

First, let’s define what ‘acute non-specific low back pain’ actually means as it is often misinterpreted and misunderstood… pic.twitter.com/DQrX1b2NQh

— The Sp⚽️rts Physio (@AdamMeakins) April 10, 2023

The term ‘acute’ simply means your low back pain has occurred recently with your symptoms being less than 6 weeks old… https://t.co/n1ZpyeSgX9

— The Sp⚽️rts Physio (@AdamMeakins) April 10, 2023

The term ‘non-specific’ just means there are no signs or symptoms of anything serious or specific causing your low back pain!

Specific things such as fractures, tumours, infections, inflammatory or radicular/nerve root issues…https://t.co/IKOj7m0Hb9

— The Sp⚽️rts Physio (@AdamMeakins) April 10, 2023

Non-specific low back pain does NOT mean your back pain isn’t specific to you!

It simply means we can’t tell SPECIFICALLY what muscles, ligaments, joints, or other factors are causing your back pain… pic.twitter.com/JM33ZtUofI

— The Sp⚽️rts Physio (@AdamMeakins) April 10, 2023

This is because all of your low back muscles, ligaments, joints and other factors can create very similar symptoms presenting very similarly!

And despite some clinicians thinking they can tell what is causing your back symptoms more specifically they are just guessing at best… pic.twitter.com/o6kAwOmGfs

— The Sp⚽️rts Physio (@AdamMeakins) April 10, 2023

The other much more relevant and important point is that often we don’t need to be anymore specific with a lot of acute low back pain!!! pic.twitter.com/qy6kVXp2gd

— The Sp⚽️rts Physio (@AdamMeakins) April 10, 2023

This is because a lot of acute non-specific low back pain has a very favourable natural history for many!

Meaning it improves simply with time regardless of what treatment you do or don’t have!https://t.co/YT66tGWYjX

— The Sp⚽️rts Physio (@AdamMeakins) April 10, 2023

This fact upsets a lot of therapists who often have their interests and identities deeply imbedded in their perceptions of treating low back pain!

When in fact they are often just distracting patients whilst time cures them! pic.twitter.com/hhu6VeeMRe

— The Sp⚽️rts Physio (@AdamMeakins) April 10, 2023

The biggest problem with treatments for acute non-specific low back pain isn’t that NOTHING helps!

It’s that EVERYTHING can give the impression of helping… often just long enough for someone to empty their wallet! pic.twitter.com/VxPIr7y8oK

— The Sp⚽️rts Physio (@AdamMeakins) April 10, 2023

So what should you do if you have a sudden onset of low back pain?

Well first don’t panic and realise that it’s very common and often nothing serious and will improve with time!

— The Sp⚽️rts Physio (@AdamMeakins) April 10, 2023

But if you do have any of these rare symptoms then get checked out sooner rather than later! pic.twitter.com/uESiqyYPBT

— The Sp⚽️rts Physio (@AdamMeakins) April 10, 2023

But if like most you don’t have those symptoms the use some heat or cold or topical rubs to soothe and reduce pain a bit!

Try to avoid anything that really aggravates your back pain too much for a few days, but KEEP MOVING little and often!

— The Sp⚽️rts Physio (@AdamMeakins) April 10, 2023

Even if it’s just a slow walk or a few floor based stretches now and then, movement is key!

But the main thing is just give it time as most symptoms will start to improve in around 2-6 weeks…

— The Sp⚽️rts Physio (@AdamMeakins) April 10, 2023