Some causes of back pain you might not know about
Back pain is incredibly common, in fact, it’s one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. But while many people assume it’s always due to injury or “wear and tear,” the reality is more complex.
Some of the most common causes of lower back pain include:
Muscle or ligament strain – often from over stretching or sudden movement.
Disc problems – including bulging or herniated discs that irritate nearby nerves.
Joint dysfunction – particularly in the sacroiliac joints or lumbar facet joints.
Arthritis – including osteoarthritis and inflammatory types like ankylosing spondylitis.
Referred pain – from issues like kidney stones, period pains, prostate issues or digestive problems.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend staying active and avoiding bed rest. That’s because immobility can make symptoms worse by deconditioning your back muscles. However, if you think your back pain might be casued by kidney problems, or other internal organs, you must see your GP asap.
At The Ashgrove Clinic we take a whole-body approach. Our osteopaths and physiotherapists assess not just the painful area, but look at how your whole body is moving, and what might be overworking or underworking to compensate.
Fun fact: Up to 85% of people with back pain have what’s called non-specific low back pain, meaning there’s no single structural cause (Maher et al., The Lancet, 2017). But that doesn’t mean there’s no solution. Of course the solution will depend on what a registered professional finds, which is where osteopaths and physiotherapists come in useful. If there’s no single structural cause an osteopath or physiotherapist will work out all the different things that are contributing to your pain. And then they’ll treat them!
Getting help early can make a big difference. We focus on hands-on treatment, exercise, movement coaching and practical advice to get you back to living your life comfortably.