By Chelsea Axe, DC, CSCS
Reviewed by Ron Torrance, DO
Over the last few decades, we’ve seen a measurable increase in chronic lower back pain in the U.S. It is estimated that at some point in our lives, 80 percent of Americans will experience back pain. This has led to chronic lower back pain being the second leading cause of disability in the U.S., which means that sufferers not only deal with pain but high medical bills and missed work. (1)
Though the prevalence of chronic lower back pain is high, some of the most common causes are due to mechanical issues or the way the body moves, rather than serious illness. For most people whose back pain is mechanical, it means that through lower back exercises, including rehabilitative exercises, stretching and strengthening, we can drastically reduce and often eliminate the presence of low back pain.
That being said, correctly diagnosing your lower back pain is the first step to understanding the cause as well as creating and implementing the right treatment plan to find lower back pain relief. (2)