7/27/2019 lowbackpain1
1/8
Physiotherapy Department, Horton Hospital
Low Back Pain
Information for Patients
7/27/2019 lowbackpain1
2/8
Low back pain
Low back pain is very common and what you do in the early
stages is important.
The spine is one o the strongest parts o your body and itsstructure is designed or movement. It is surrounded by strong
muscles and ligaments which support and protect the spine.
Rest or more than a couple o days ater the onset o low back
pain is not advised because the spine needs movement in order
to start to get better.
Any acute pain will usually improve within a ew days or weeksso that you can return to your normal activities.
Your GP will be able to discuss your pain and may prescribe pain
relie medication in the early days to ease the discomort and
help you to start to move. Being mobile will then help your back
to get better more quickly and you will be able to reduce your
medication.
Although back pain is very distressing, in most cases it is not due
to any serious disease or damage.
Why keep active?
Movingaroundwillpreventthejointsinthespinefromgettingstiff.Stiffjointscanbecomepainful.
Itwillkeepyourmusclesstrong.
Youwillfeelmorepositive.
Itwillreducetheseverityofyourpain.
Youaremorelikelytobeabletoreturntoworkquickly.
Information for patients 2
7/27/2019 lowbackpain1
3/8
Information for patients 3
What sort o activity?
Research has shown that people who do regular exercise are
less likely to develop chronic back pain. The type o exercise you
should do will vary depending on what stage you are at ater
your back pain started.
There is no perect type o exercise or low back pain. It is
thereore much better that you do a type o exercise which you
enjoyandarelikelytostickto.Thiscouldinclude:
Walking
Swimming
Pilates
Yoga
Dancing
Sport
However, in the early days or weeks, simple exercises to get
you moving, which can be done on your bed, together with
continuing your usual activities at home, will be enough.
Theseexercisescouldinclude:
Knee rolling lie on your back with your knees bent.
Gently roll your knees rom side to side. Start with very small
movementsandincreaseasyourjointsloosenup.Dothisfor
- 1 minute.
7/27/2019 lowbackpain1
4/8
Information for patients 4
Pelvic tilting in the same position, atten the low back onto
the bed and then release slowly. Do this in a gentle rocking
motion or - 1 minute.
Knees to chest in the same position, grasp your right knee
and gently pull it towards your right shoulder. Pause or a
couple o seconds and then return to the starting position.
Repeat with the let leg. Try 5 times on each leg. As you eel
more comortable with this exercise you can try it with both
knees together.
7/27/2019 lowbackpain1
5/8
Information for patients 5
Back extension lying ace down on the bed with both
hands under your shoulders, straighten your elbows so that
your upper trunk lits o the bed. Keep the ront o your hips
on the bed and your pelvis and legs relaxed. You may fnd
that you can only partially straighten your arms this is fne.
Repeat up to 10 times.
It is a good sign i a position or exercise causes the pain to
reduce or move to the middle o your back. Use these positions
oten and keep going with the exercises. It is a bad sign i a
position or exercise causes pain to increase or move down into
your buttock or leg. Avoid these positions and stop doing theexercise immediately.
7/27/2019 lowbackpain1
6/8
Information for patients 6
Comortable positions
Lieonyourbackwithapillowortwounderyourknees.
Lieatonyourfront.Ifthisistoopainfultryagainwithone
or two pillows under your hips. As your pain eases, remove
the pillows so that you are completely at.
Lieonyoursidewithapillowbetweenyourknees.Sometimes
a rolled up towel around your waist also helps.
Sittingisoftenveryuncomfortableanditisbesttoonlysitfor
short periods o time. I you have to sit it may help to sit on an
upright chair with a small, rolled towel in the hollow o your
back.
7/27/2019 lowbackpain1
7/8
Information for patients 7
Signs to look out or
Consult your doctor urgently i you develop any o the ollowing
symptoms:
Lossofcontrolofyourbladderorbowel
Anynumbnessradiatingintoyourbuttockorleg
Severeworseningofthepain.
Further inormation
TheBackBook-UKEdition:Authors:KimBurtonetal.2002.Published by TSO (The Stationery Ofce)
www.nhsdirect.co.uk
www.patient.co.uk
Questions and how to contact us
Ifyouhaveanyquestions,pleasecontactusat:
Physiotherapy Department
Horton Hospital
Banbury
Tel:01295229431
7/27/2019 lowbackpain1
8/8
H.Ellis,SeniorPhysiotherapist
S. Baimbridge, Outpatient Physiotherapy Services Team Lead
The Horton Hospital
Version1,January2009
ReviewdateJanuary2012Oxord Radclie Hospitals NHS Trust
OxfordOX39DU
www.oxordradclie.nhs.uk
OMI50713
I you need an interpreter or need a document inanother language, large print, Braille or audio version,please call 01865 221473. When we receive your call
we may transer you to an interpreter. This can takesome time, so please be patient.