Back pain

Back pain

Overview

Back pain is one of the most common problems for most people. It is also one of the leading causes of disability worldwide[1]. Back pain can manifest as a steady, dull discomfort or a sharp, intense pain that may extend down one leg. It can occur suddenly after an injury, fall, or lifting something heavy, repetitive action, or it may develop more gradually as a result of age-related wear and tear on the spine. In some cases, conditions like inflammatory arthritis or other health problems may also contribute to back pain.

Treatment depends on the specific cause and symptoms, as multiple factors are often involved. Still, there are ways to improve your overall health and reduce the likelihood of experiencing persistent or long-lasting back pain[2].

Causes of Back pain

Back pain is commonly caused by strains and sprains, which can occur suddenly or develop gradually. These injuries affect different parts of your back[3]:

  • Strains: These involve injuries to muscles or tendons, often resulting from a single event (like lifting something heavy) or from repetitive actions (such as frequent bending while working).
  • Sprains: These are injuries to ligaments, typically caused by a sudden fall, twist, or impact that stretches a ligament too far.

With either a strain or sprain, you may also experience muscle spasms, increased pain with movement, limited mobility, making it difficult to walk, bend, or stand as usual, a sudden “pop” sound or a tearing feeling during the injury. 

Apart from strains and sprains, back pain can also be triggered by several other factors, which can be categorized into the following groups[3]:

  • Mechanical or structural issues: Problems related to the bones, discs, or joints in the back that affect its function and cause pain.
  • Referred pain: Pain that originates elsewhere in the body but is felt in the back, often due to conditions like kidney stones or digestive issues.
  • Infections: Certain infections can affect the spine or surrounding tissues, leading to pain.
  • Tumours: Abnormal growths in the spine can also cause pain by putting pressure on surrounding nerves or tissues.

Types of Back pain

Healthcare professionals and researchers categorize back pain into three main types[2]:

  1. Acute Back pain: This type of pain appears quickly and tends to resolve within a short period, usually a few days to weeks.
  2. Subacute Back pain: This pain can start abruptly or develop over time and lasts longer than acute pain, typically between 4 and 12 weeks.
  3. Chronic Back pain: This pain lasts for more than 12 weeks and can be persistent, occurring every day. It may start suddenly or develop gradually.

Signs of Back pain

These are common signs associated with back pain[4]:

  • Pain Lasting Over a Week: If the pain continues longer than expected, it could signal a deeper issue, so seeking medical advice early is important.
  • Pain Spreading: When back pain radiates to other areas, like the legs, it could point to sciatica, a nerve issue needing professional treatment.
  • Numbness, Tingling, or Weakness: These symptoms may indicate nerve problems, which require prompt treatment to avoid permanent damage.
  • Pain After Injury: Any back pain following an accident could be due to serious injuries like fractures, and should be checked by a doctor.
  • Pain at Specific Times or Positions: If back pain worsens during certain activities or positions, it may be a sign of a serious health issue like infection or cancer.
  • Bowel or Urination Issues: Loss of control over these bodily functions along with back pain is a medical emergency, possibly indicating nerve damage requiring urgent care.
  • Unexplained Weight Loss: Significant, unexplained weight loss with back pain could suggest a serious condition like an infection or a tumour that needs to be evaluated.
  • Fever with Back pain: A fever along with back pain that doesn’t improve with OTC medication might indicate a serious infection, requiring medical intervention and possibly antibiotics.

Back pain and TCIH Approaches

In addition to conventional treatments, several complementary therapies can support the healing process and help manage back pain more effectively:

  • Acupressure: Acupressure involves applying physical pressure to particular spots on the body to encourage natural healing. These specific points are thought to correspond with energy channels, or "meridians," that help the movement of vital life energy, "Qi". By targeting these points, acupressure practitioners seek to restore harmony and activate the body's self-healing processes[5].
  • Acupuncture: Acupuncture has been practised for over 2,500 years, using needles inserted at specific points on the body to promote healing. Acupuncture is thought to stimulate the central nervous system, causing the release of chemicals that affect pain perception and promote healing, which can help with back pain relief[6].
  • Alexander Technique: The primary aim of the Alexander Technique, particularly for back and neck pain, is to encourage proper muscle tension during everyday movements like sitting, standing, and walking. The idea behind this approach is that reducing excessive muscle tension can help prevent strain on the spine and its surrounding structures, which are prone to compression and damage[7].
  • Chiropractic: Chiropractors focus on spinal adjustments to address the root cause of pain and enhance mobility. Along with spinal manipulation, they may also use various hands-on techniques to treat back pain, such as trigger point therapy, myofascial release, and massage.
  • Deep tissue massage: Deep tissue massage provides both physical relief and mental relaxation. While other types of massage are mainly aimed at relaxation, deep tissue therapy targets muscle discomfort and stiffness. It can also promote mental relaxation and stress relief. A 2014 study with 59 participants showed that deep tissue massage was effective in reducing pain for individuals suffering from chronic lower back pain[8].

Therapies that may assist this symptom:

Acupuncture Aromatherapy Chiropractic Osteopathy Colour Therapy Craniosacral Therapy Magnetic Field Therapy Chinese Massage Deep Tissue Massage Lomi Lomi Traditional Tibetan Massage Myofascial Release Therapy Myotherapy Rolfing SCENAR Therapy Shiatsu Dru Yoga Tension and Trauma Release Exercises® Kids Yoga Visceral Manipulation Swedish Massage Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Healing Balneotherapy Acupressure Ashtanga Yoga Ayurveda Biochemic Therapy Bowen Therapy Corporate Yoga Crystal Therapy Cupping Hatha Yoga Herbal Medicine Iyengar Yoga Japanese yoga Kinesiology Kundalini Yoga Laughter Yoga Physiotherapy Pilates Pregnancy Yoga Raja Yoga Reflexology Remedial Massage Satyananda Yoga Tai Chi The Feldenkrais Method® Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Traditional Thai Massage Vinyasa Yoga Yoga Therapy Forrest Yoga Anusara® Yoga Chair Yoga Alexander Technique Yin Yoga Baptiste yoga Jivamukti yoga Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Show all

References

1. Back pain. Mayo Clinic; 2024.

2. Back Pain. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases;; 2023.

3. Back Pain. Cleveland Clinic; 2024.

4. 8 Signs It’s Time to Call a Doctor for Your Back Pain. University of Maryland Medical System; 2025.

5. 6 Most Effective Acupressure Points for Back Pain Relief. Physio Tattva; 2021.

6. Dunkin MA. Acupuncture for Back Pain. WebMD; 2022.

7. The Alexander Technique for Back Pain. SPINE-health; 2011.

8. Is a Deep Tissue Massage What Your Muscles Need? Healthline; 2023.

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