Back Pain & Osteopathy

Back pain affects 80% of Australians and it is the most common cause of absenteeism at work. Osteopaths are "back experts", providing over one million treatments to Australians last year.

Osteopathy is a drug free form of manual medicine. It treats the body's musculoskeletal components (joints, muscles and spine) through gentle hands on techniques such as soft tissue stretching and massage, deep tactile pressure, and the mobilisation and manipulation of joints.

Apart from pain relief, osteopathy has other benefits for the bad back sufferer. The manipulation and mobilisation performed in treatment positively affects the nervous, circulatory and lymphatic systems, to deliver a better balanced body and better health overall.

Australian Osteopathic Association National President Mr Michael Mulholland-Licht said if people took the time to take care of their back, a lot of serious complaints could be avoided.

"Often back injury follows a relatively minor event, like a person lifting something they have raised many times before, " said Mulholland-Licht.

"The problem is often preceded by weeks, months or even years of poor body use and postural habits. Bad sitting posture is probably the greatest culprit.

Back pain has lots of causes from injury in a work or recreational accident; muscular spasms or a disease like scoliosis; through to the weight of a pregnancy or decreased flexibility with age.

Back ache can also be a secondary effect of hip, knee or foot problems or can come from simple causes like bad posture, a jerky sudden movement, a lumpy mattress or poor lifting techniques.

Osteopaths will do more than offer treatment. They will devise an ongoing management programme to prevent recurrence, and advise on diet, exercise, posture and breathing to ensure long term relief.

"With our lives becoming increasingly busy, yet sedentary, and the incidence of back pain rising, a prevention plan that is quick and easy is a good way for individuals to maintain the health of their back,”said Mulholland-Licht.

Osteopaths recommend the following 10 tips for back care:

1. For back pain, see your osteopath - sooner rather than later.

2. Take regular exercise e.g. swimming, walking or stretching.

3. Avoid "computer slump.". Sit tall and breathe with the diaphragm.

4. During repetitive tasks take frequent breaks or vary your activity.

5. Bend the knees when reaching down or lifting, and carry weight close to the body not at arms length. Our backs are forklifts, not cranes 1

6. Watch children's posture. Carrying heavy school bags on one shoulder is a no-nol

7. During pregnancy, osteopathy can help your body to adjust to changes as the baby grows.

8. Avoid strain when lifting, particularly carrying small children and heavy shopping.

9. Make sure you have a good quality and supportive mattress - your bed could be part of the problem.

10. Do your best to make your workplace more ergonomically friendly.

Reprinted with permission from the Australian Osteopathic Association