Low back pain

The spine is a complex structure of our body that is part of the axial skeleton that makes up the central part of our body. The spine is composed of 33 small units called vertebrae, 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral and 4 coccygeal. The vertebrae have a canal in their posterior part in which the nervous system passes, which innervates various structures to allow perception of sensations and movement. Between consecutive vertebrae, there are intervertebral discs, cushion-like structures with the primary function of acting as shock absorbers and allowing mobility and fluidity of the spine. Low back pain, more commonly called low back pain, is an umbrella term that includes multiple conditions with or without an apparent cause of localized pain in the lower back. Low back pain is one of the most debilitating conditions in the world, and almost everyone has experienced an episode of low back pain in their lifetime. Depending on the duration of symptoms, the condition can be classified as acute (≤ 6 weeks), subacute (between 6 and 12 weeks) and chronic (≥ 12 weeks). Low back pain is multifactorial and cannot always be attributed to a specific cause, such as a traumatic event or overload injury. Several potential risk factors for the development of low back pain have been studied, including lack of mobility, weakness, poor posture, prolonged inactivity, sedentary lifestyle, as well as high-intensity activity and excessive strain on the back. Patients may experience significantly different symptoms, from minimal pain to severe back pain combined with neural symptoms (e.g., tingling, burning, weakness, etc.) and significantly limited mobility. In addition to collecting data on the patient’s medical history and performing a physical evaluation, an instrumental examination (e.g., X-ray, computed tomography, MRI, etc.) is often prescribed if structural lesions are suspected. It is important to note that the presence of anatomical abnormalities of the spine detected by instrumental examinations do not necessarily correlate with the symptoms reported by the patient, and false positives are common. Therefore, a holistic approach is essential in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with back disorders.