Lower back pain is the leading cause of disability in North America1. The lower back includes the five vertebrae (referred to as L1-L5) in the lumbar region, which supports much of the weight of the upper body. The spaces between the vertebrae are maintained by round, rubbery pads called intervertebral discs that act like shock absorbers throughout the spinal column to cushion the bones as the body moves. Bands of tissue known as ligaments hold the vertebrae in place, and tendons attach the muscles to the spinal column. Thirty-one pairs of nerves are rooted to the spinal cord and they control body movements and transmit signals from the body to the brain. Most acute low back pain is mechanical in nature, meaning that there is a disruption in the way the components of the back (the spine, muscle, intervertebral discs, and nerves) fit together and move. Some examples of mechanical causes of low back pain include: Congenital (things you were born with), injuries (sprain/strains, or traumatic injuries), degenerative problems (degeneration, spondylosis, arthritis), neurologic origins (nerve compression, inflammation, injury)2. Low back pain symptoms can be perceived as a dull ache, sharp/stabbing pain, numbness and tingling, or even spasms. At Performance Health Clinics, our job is to determine what structures are involved causing the low back pain, and how we can treat it. Effective treatments for low back pain can vary from: chiropractic manipulative therapy, deep-tissue laser therapy, non-invasive spinal traction/decompression therapy, trigger point release, instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization, myofascial therapy, therapeutic exercises, cupping therapy, or any combination of these modalities. Interested in learning more, schedule a visit with one of our providers!