What is low back pain?

Low back pain is the medical term most commonly used to define any type of pain in the lower part of the spine. It is among the major health problems in the world, mainly affecting the economically active population and predominantly women and patients between 40-80 years old.

Incidence

Currently, it is one of the main causes of medical consultation, absence from work, and permanent disability. In Brazil, according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, 27 million adults in the country suffer from chronic spinal disease, with lumbar problems being the most common (2015).

Symptoms

Symptoms can appear without apparent cause or after an episode of trauma or momentary overload. Current clinical research shows that most patients with acute low back pain recover within six weeks without medical intervention. However, 2% to 7% of patients remain symptomatic and develop chronic pain, a set of symptoms that can often be controlled with conservative treatment (physical therapy, including pain education and exercises), although in some cases, medication administration and surgical procedures are required.

Low back pain can be predominantly located in the lower back and buttocks or can extend to the legs and feet. Preferred postures, such as sitting, lying down, or leaning back or forward while standing, can be adopted to relieve symptoms.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis for low back pain is a complex process that requires a detailed clinical examination and should not be based solely on imaging tests, as often the changes present in these tests are not responsible for the symptoms. However, some signs such as loss of strength or changes in sensitivity in the legs and feet, nocturnal pain, and sudden changes in bowel or bladder control should serve as a warning for more detailed investigation.

Seeking support from a multidisciplinary health team (doctors, physical therapists, psychologists, nutritionists, etc.) is indicated in cases of low back pain, both to evaluate which postures to adopt, better understand the mechanisms that triggered the symptoms, plan nutrition, and assess the need for medication treatment. However, there are simple attitudes that the patient can adopt in their daily life to prevent and help manage low back pain, such as: staying active by regularly practicing a physical activity of their choice; seeking emotional balance, reducing stress, staying positive and informed aware about the behavior of symptoms; and paying attention to their workload and lifestyle habits, such as sleep and diet.

By Einstein Editorial Board