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Fixed Sagittal Imbalance

Fixed Sagittal Imbalance

Individuals with fixed sagittal imbalance, a condition where the normal curve of the lower spine is greatly reduced or absent altogether that can cause pain and difficulty balancing. Can chiropractic treatment, physical therapy, and exercise help improve the condition?

Fixed Sagittal Imbalance

Fixed Sagittal Imbalance

The condition is commonly known as flat back syndrome and can be present at birth or can happen as a result of surgery or a medical condition.

  • It can also happen for other reasons, including degenerative disc disease, traumatic injury, or as a result of spinal surgery. (Columbia University Irving Medical Center. 2023)
  • Individuals with flat back syndrome position their head and neck too far forward.
  • A major symptom is difficulty standing for long periods of time.

Symptoms

The spine has two curves. The lumbar spine in the lower back and cervical spine in the neck curve inward. The thoracic spine in the upper back curves outward. The curves are part of the spine’s natural alignment. They help the body balance and maintain the center of gravity.

  • If these curves begin to disappear the body can have trouble and difficulty standing up straight.
  • The loss of curvature causes the head and neck to pitch forward, making it hard to walk and do regular normal activities.
  • Individuals have to flex their hips and knees and adjust their pelvis in order to stand up straight. (Columbia University Irving Medical Center. 2023)
  • There is a tendency to stoop forward which gradually increases and can even feel like the body is falling forward.
  • By the end of the day, the body is exhausted from the strain of trying to maintain balance.

Causes

Some causes of fixed sagittal imbalance include: (Columbia University Irving Medical Center. 2023)

  • Congenital – present at birth.
  • Degenerative disc disease.
  • Ankylosing spondylitis – a type of inflammatory arthritis of the spine.
  • Compression fractures of the vertebrae – for example, caused by osteoporosis.
  • The condition used to be common after spine surgery to correct scoliosis/abnormal curvature of the spine.
  • The devices implanted could cause flat back syndrome, especially for older individuals.
  • However, new and updated surgical techniques have decreased the complications.

Diagnosis

A doctor will ask about medical history, injuries, or back surgery. This will followed by a physical exam, that can include:

  • A musculoskeletal exam.
  • A neurologic exam.
  • A gait examination will assess standing and walking ability.
  • The gait exam is done because the gait can change to compensate for the loss of the curvature.
  • X-ray imaging will show spinal alignment.
  • Other possible sources of symptoms will be considered before a diagnosis can be confirmed.

Treatment

Treatment often involves physical therapy and exercise, bracing to provide increased support, and sometimes surgery.

  • Physical therapy typically begins with stretching and targeted strengthening exercises to improve posture.
  • The goal is to reverse the pattern of muscle imbalance that keeps the lower back flat.
  • Exercises to strengthen the neck, rear shoulder muscles, back, core, and buttocks can include: (National Health Service. n.d.)
  • Abdominal stretches
  • Hamstring stretches.
  1. Hamstring stretches improve the alignment of the lumbar spine.
  2. Hold the stretch for about 30 seconds at a time.
  3. Repeat three to five times once or twice a day.
  • Back extensions
  • Chest stretches
  • Planking
  • Side-lying leg raises
  • Seated rows in a gym or pull-ups

In severe cases, patients may need corrective surgery. A few options include: (Columbia University Irving Medical Center. 2023)

A chiropractor and/or physical therapist can recommend exercises and other forms of treatment. (Won-Moon Kim, et al., 2021)


Life-Changing Chiropractic Relief


References

Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Flatback syndrome.

National Health Service. Common posture mistakes and fixes.

Lee, B. H., Hyun, S. J., Kim, K. J., Jahng, T. A., Kim, Y. J., & Kim, H. J. (2018). Clinical and Radiological Outcomes of Posterior Vertebral Column Resection for Severe Spinal Deformities. Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society, 61(2), 251–257. doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2017.0181

Kim, W. M., Seo, Y. G., Park, Y. J., Cho, H. S., & Lee, C. H. (2021). Effect of Different Exercise Types on the Cross-Sectional Area and Lumbar Lordosis Angle in Patients with Flat Back Syndrome. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(20), 10923. doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010923

Learning To Sleep On Your Back

Learning To Sleep On Your Back

Individuals spend around one-third of their life sleeping or resting. Every person has their own preferred sleeping position. However, not all sleep positions are comfortable and supportive to the body, especially the spine. Individuals that sleep on their side or stomach that experience back pain might want to consider switching to sleeping on their back. Changing preferred sleeping positions can seem impossible,  however, learning to sleep on your back is possible with a little training and adjustment period.

Learning To Sleep On Your Back

Learning To Sleep On Your Back

After side sleeping, back sleeping is the second most common position. Individuals that are stomach or side sleepers that suffer from:

  • Body and back soreness.
  • Pain symptoms.
  • Tension headaches.
  • Heartburn or acid reflux.
  • Aches in the joints and ligaments.

Learning to sleep on your back is recommended because its health benefits can potentially solve all these problems and more.

  • Adapting this sleeping position can help maintain proper spinal alignment.
  • Relieves waking up with tension headaches.
  • Relieve sinus problems.

Individuals that are not natural back sleepers understand how difficult it is to force oneself to adapt to a new sleeping position. There are ways to condition the mind and body to fall and stay asleep on your back, resulting in healthy rest. These include:

A Pillow Under The Knees

  • It may help to place a supportive pillow under the knees.
  • The knees should be slightly bent and feel comfortable.
  • Check to make sure that the neck and spine feel comfortable and are in alignment.
  • Make adjustments as needed.

A Pillow Under The Low Back

  • In the beginning, switching to back sleeping can increase discomfort in the low back.
  • Placing a pillow under the lower back can help.
  • Using too large or thick a pillow could create added discomfort.
  • Try a few different pillows to find what works best and feels right.

Pillow Surround

  • Individuals that are active sleepers and tend to roll onto their side or stomach soon after falling asleep, can place pillows around the midsection and hips.
  • A small barrier of pillows around the body can assist in learning to sleep on your back.
  • The pillows help prevent the body from rolling.
  • It’s recommended to place pillows closely against either side of the body.
  • Using the pillows as an enclosure will force the body to remain in a neutral position throughout the night.

Sleeping On The Right Pillow

  • Individuals will want to make sure they are using the right sleeping pillow.
  • In addition to supporting the spine’s alignment, a quality pillow will also support the neck.
  • The recommended pillow for back sleeping should cradle the head and ensure it stays elevated.
  • A pillow that is too flat or too thick can cause the head to become unlevel with the body leading to:
  • Neck and upper body pain
  • Restricted airflow, which may cause you to snore or suffer from sleep apnea.
  • Digestive issues like acid reflux and heartburn.
  • Consider a pillow that’s made out of some type of memory foam to assist with learning to sleep on your back.
  • The thickness and hugging sensation can help to stay on the back and prevent inadvertently flipping over.

Sleeping On The Right Mattress

A positive back sleeping experience begins with the right mattress. There are so many mattress types to choose from. It is recommended to consider the materials, the firmness level, and the size. For comfortably sleeping on your back, the firmness level is essential.

  • Consider the positioning of your spine.
  • The objective is to keep the spine as straight as possible, which is achieved with the proper firmness.
  • A mattress that is too firm will create unwanted pressure and tension on the shoulders and the pelvic region.
  • A mattress that is too soft will cause the hips to sink, throwing spinal alignment off and causing back pain symptoms.
  • A medium-firm mattress is recommended.
  • Memory foam is a great option for learning to sleep on your back.
  • Memory foam cradles the natural curve of the body, and hugs the body during sleep, which helps avoid accidentally rolling onto your side or stomach.
  • Memory foam mattresses with integrated gel can provide cooling and ventilation to keep the body refreshed throughout the night.
  • A medium-firm memory foam mattress will make sure the body stays straight, with the proper cushioning around the pelvis and hips.

Training To Sleep On Your Back


References

Anderson, Ngaire H et al. “Association of Supine Going-to-Sleep Position in Late Pregnancy With Reduced Birth Weight: A Secondary Analysis of an Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis.” JAMA network open vol. 2,10 e1912614. 2 Oct. 2019, doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.12614

Desouzart, Gustavo, et al. “Effects of sleeping position on back pain in physically active seniors: A controlled pilot study.” Work (Reading, Mass.) vol. 53,2 (2015): 235-40. doi:10.3233/WOR-152243

Khan, Bashir Ahmad, et al. “Effect of bed head elevation during sleep in symptomatic patients of nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux.” Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology vol. 27,6 (2012): 1078-82. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1746.2011.06968.x

Portale, G et al. “When are reflux episodes symptomatic?.” Diseases of the esophagus: official journal of the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus vol. 20,1 (2007): 47-52. doi:10.1111/j.1442-2050.2007.00650.x

Skarpsno, Eivind Schjelderup, et al. “Sleep positions and nocturnal body movements based on free-living accelerometer recordings: association with demographics, lifestyle, and insomnia symptoms.” Nature and Science of Sleep vol. 9 267-275. 1 Nov. 2017, doi:10.2147/NSS.S145777

Surdea-Blaga, Teodora, et al. “Food and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.” Current medicinal chemistry vol. 26,19 (2019): 3497-3511. doi:10.2174/0929867324666170515123807

Flat Back Syndrome

Flat Back Syndrome

Individuals believe that maintaining a straight/flat back is healthy. However, the back is made up of natural curves that allow flexibility and optimal movement. If there is a lack of these curves, it can lead to spine issues, discomfort, and pain. A common problem to develop from a spine lacking natural curvature is abnormal kyphosis. This is when the natural curve in the thoracic spine – mid-back or lumbar spine – low back disappears, which results in a flat back. Restoring the curvature can be challenging, as flatback syndrome requires chiropractic adjustments to gently shift and realign the spine back into a healthy curve and re-train the spine to maintain the curve.

Flat Back Syndrome

Causes of Flat Back Syndrome

Flatback syndrome is usually a result of muscle tightness in the lower back muscles, specifically in the psoas muscle. Or it could be degenerative disc disease, where the cartilage supporting the spine begins to weaken. Other causes include arthritis and osteoporosis. Practicing unhealthy posture habits can worsen these conditions, speeding up the loss of the spine’s curvature. Loss of spinal curvature does not occur rapidly, as the body will begin to present with symptoms. The following symptoms could be an indication:

  • Fatigue when trying to stand upright
  • Balance problems
  • Restricted mobility
  • Muscle spasms
  • Chronic low back pain
  • Thigh pain
  • Groin pain
  • Disc herniation

Back pain and problems with balance are the earliest warning signs of flatback syndrome.

Symptoms

Flatback symptoms usually get worse as the day progresses, with a sense of fatigue and increasing difficulty to stand upright. Individuals tend to flex or bend their hips and knees to get into an upright position. This can become an exhausting process as the day progresses. Individuals can also have symptoms of sciatica and/or spinal stenosis with leg pain and weakness that gets worse when walking. Neck and upper back pain can begin to present while straining to align themselves. The symptoms become disabling, often requiring pain medications that limit the individual’s ability to perform daily activities.

Realignment Treatment

A chiropractor must determine the severity of the deviation through a thorough assessment and examination. This shows the loss of curvature to help a chiropractor plan a realignment/remodeling adjustment schedule. Restoring a natural kyphosis is done through a combination of adjustments and bracing. Scheduled spinal adjustments will realign and shift the vertebrae back to neutral, while a back brace supports to prevent any deviation. Stretching and exercising relevant muscle groups is also part of a chiropractic treatment plan. An example is core exercises for strengthening the muscles supporting the spine.


Body Composition


Personalized Nutrition

Because the body is so complex and dynamic, there is no perfect fit when it comes to diet, exercise, or a combination. Fad diets typically recommend that individuals adhere to the same eating guidelines, indicating they will reach an expected result like fat loss. These diets work because they focus on a simple reduction in calorie intake, especially processed and fast foods. The problem is that some of these fad diets can restrict critical nutrients that negatively affect an individual’s health. More information about an individual’s body and how it works is an excellent resource in improving body composition and overall health. Personalized nutrition is an innovative and favorable approach to preventing and treating obesity and related conditions. This approach identifies:

  • Genetic markers
  • Dietary patterns
  • Environment
  • Metabolism

Educated recommendations can be made based on these factors.

References

Drabsch, Theresa, and Christina Holzapfel. “A Scientific Perspective of Personalised Gene-Based Dietary Recommendations for Weight Management.” Nutrients vol. 11,3 617. 14 Mar. 2019, doi:10.3390/nu11030617

Farcy, J P, and F J Schwab. “Management of flatback and related kyphotic decompensation syndromes.” Spine vol. 22,20 (1997): 2452-7. doi:10.1097/00007632-199710150-00025

Lee, Chang-Hyun, et al. “‘Lumbar Degenerative Kyphosis’ Is Not Byword for Degenerative Sagittal Imbalance: Time to Replace a Misconception.” Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society vol. 60,2 (2017): 125-129. doi:10.3340/jkns.2016.0607.001

Lu, Daniel C, and Dean Chou. “Flatback syndrome.” Neurosurgery clinics of North America vol. 18,2 (2007): 289-94. doi:10.1016/j.nec.2007.01.007

Wiggins, Gregory C et al. “Management of iatrogenic flat-back syndrome.” Neurosurgical focus vol. 15,3 E8. 15 Sep. 2003, doi:10.3171/foc.2003.15.3.8

Straining, Spasming, Injuring The Lat Muscles

Straining, Spasming, Injuring The Lat Muscles

The latissimus dorsi or lats are the large flat muscles on each side covering the width of the middle and lower back. They connect the bone of the upper arm to the spine and the hip. When pain presents in these muscles, it is typically caused by:

  • Repetitive overuse in a job or doing a task/chore that requires constant
  • Bending
  • Pulling
  • Pushing
  • Reaching
  • Twisting
  • Kneeling
  • A result of poor technique in sports or similar physical activities.

Chiropractic treatment, along with exercises, can help prevent and relieve this pain.

Straining, Spasming, Injuring The Lat Muscles

Symptoms of lat pain

The objective is to diagnose whether the pain is located in the latissimus dorsi or other muscles in the shoulders or back. If the latissimus dorsi is injured, an individual might feel pain in several areas, these include:

  • Lower, middle, and upper back
  • Back of the shoulders
  • The base of the shoulder blade
  • Lower arms
  • Inside of the arms, extending down to the fingers

In certain cases, the pain will present without warning and can be felt in the surrounding muscles. This type of pain often gets worse when the individual:

  • Extends their hands forward and out in front
  • Raises their hands above their head
  • Tosses or throws an object

Damage or injury to the latissimus dorsi

Tissue damage or injury can cause other symptoms to present. These include:

  • Tingling in the lower arms
  • Breathing causes aching and/or pain
  • Tendonitis in the middle and/or lower back

If the source of the back pain cannot be identified, or if it is accompanied by:

  • Fever
  • Breathing problems
  • Abdominal pain
  • Consult a doctor as these could be symptoms of a more serious condition.

Uses and Causes

The lat muscles are used in everyday activities. These include:

  • Picking up objects like grocery bags
  • Opening heavy doors
  • Chest expansion for breathing
  • Pushing against the armrests of a chair to stand up
  • Using handrails to climb stairs

For sports or working out, the lats are used in:

  • Weightlifting exercises using the upper body
  • Bench-presses
  • Rowing
  • Swimming
  • Throwing

Common causes of pain include:

  • Overusing the muscles
  • Using poor techniques
  • Exercising without warming up

Risk of injury

Individuals that are at risk of developing this injury include those that:

  • Are continually reaching overhead
  • Regularly chop wood
  • Perform regular shoveling
  • Move furniture or other heavy objects
  • Regularly practice poor posture

Tearing the latissimus dorsi is possible, especially for athletes. Some athletes with increased risk include:

  • Golfers
  • Baseball pitchers
  • Gymnasts
  • Swimmers
  • Tennis players

Exercises that can help bring relief

Certain exercises can alleviate the aches, pain, and strengthen the lat muscles to prevent and/or worsen the injury. It is recommended to consult a doctor, sports chiropractor, or personal trainer before beginning a therapeutic exercise regimen. This is to ensure that the exercises are right for the individual and their condition and that they use the correct form. Here are two exercises that can help reduce the pain. The doctor, chiropractor, or trainer will recommend the frequency the individual should perform the exercises.

Back bow

This pose is known as the superman pose. To perform:

  • Lay facedown on the floor
  • Extend the legs so they are straight
  • Stretch arms away from the body, so they are in front of the head
  • Use the back to raise the shoulders
  • Extend the arms and legs upward
  • Hold the position for 10 seconds

Pelvic raise/lift

To perform this exercise:

  • Lay flat on your back with the arms at the sides
  • Bend the knees like for a sit-up with the heels close to the buttocks
  • Keeping the hands and feet in place
  • Lift the pelvis upward
  • Slowly lower back to the floor

Prevention

Individuals can prevent lat pain with lifestyle adjustments. These include:

  • Using proper technique and posture during work, sports, and exercise
  • Staying aware to not overuse the muscles
  • Staying hydrated
  • Warming up and cooling down thoroughly before and after a workout, sports, physical activities
  • Regular stretching
  • Applying ice and heat before and after work, sports, and physical activities
  • Chiropractic care
  • Physical therapy massage

Body Composition


Nutrition and Recovery Advantage

Two important steps to achieve optimal health include:

Nutrition

Having a proper protein intake is important for muscle adaptability or the way muscles adapt to stress during exercise and/or strength training. This is also important to stimulate muscle protein synthesis after exercising and/or strength training. To ensure the body is getting the strength and hypertrophy improvement from exercise and strength training, it is recommended to eat around 25g of high-quality protein after workout sessions.

Recovery

For those doing aerobic and strength training, maximize recovery time between workout sessions. This is because strength and aerobic fitness health gains are low when the two only have a separation of 6 hours or less. Twenty-four hours between sessions is recommended especially if the priority is endurance performance.

References

Anderson, S. E., Hertel, R., Johnston, J. O., Stauffer, E., Leinweber, E., & Steinbach, L. S. (2005, November). Latissimus dorsi tendinosis and tear: imaging features of a pseudotumor of the upper limb in five patients. American Journal of Roentgenology, 185(5), 1145–1151
www.ajronline.org/doi/abs/10.2214/AJR.04.1247

Donohue, Benjamin F et al. “Sports Injuries to the Latissimus Dorsi and Teres Major.” The American journal of sports medicine vol. 45,10 (2017): 2428-2435. doi:10.1177/0363546516676062http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0363546516676062?journalCode=ajsb

Henseler, J. F., Nagels, J., Nelissen, R. G. H. H., & de Groot, J. H. (2014, April). Does the latissimus dorsi tendon transfer for massive rotator cuff tears remain active postoperatively and restore active external rotation? Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 23(4), 553–560
www.jshoulderelbow.org/article/S1058-2746(13)00399-6/fulltext%20

George, Michael S, and Michael Khazzam. “Latissimus Dorsi Tendon Rupture.” The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons vol. 27,4 (2019): 113-118. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-17-00581

Lehman, Gregory J et al. “Variations in muscle activation levels during traditional latissimus dorsi weight training exercises: An experimental study.” Dynamic medicine: DM vol. 3,1 4. 30 Jun. 2004, doi:10.1186/1476-5918-3-4

Flatback Syndrome and Back Pain El Paso Texas

Flatback Syndrome and Back Pain El Paso Texas

A Normal Spinal Column & Flatback Syndrome

Looking at someone straight on the spine should be straight.

Looking at someone from the lateral or side view the spine shows its varying curvature.

In the neck (cervical spine) and the lower back (lumbar spine) are inward curves known as lordosis.

The thoracic spine, there is an outward curve or kyphosis.

11860 Vista Del Sol Ste. 128 Flatback Syndrome and Back Pain El Paso Texas

 

The goal is to have an economical stance and gait that does not require excessive energy.

The curves need to be well-balanced.

The gravity line should fall through:

  • The head and cervical spine
  • Behind the sacrum
  • Through the center of the hips

Like this minimum energy is exerted for standing and walking.

When these curves are not balanced, like what happens with excessive kyphosis in the thoracic spine or loss of normal lordosis in the lumbar spine, the patient may begin to experience symptoms.

Loss of lumbar lordosis or actual kyphosis in the lumbar spine that presents symptoms is named flatback syndrome.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of flatback are:

  • Difficulty standing up straight
  • Low back pain
  • Thigh pain
  • Groin pain

Symptoms will worsen as the day progresses with fatigue and increasing difficulty to stand up straight with correct posture.

Individuals will flex or bend their hips and knees to get into an upright position.

This is what causes the exhaustion as the day goes on.

Some patients also have symptoms of:

  • Sciatica
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Leg pain
  • Weakness made worse from walking

Some individuals have neck and upper back pain as they strain to get themselves upright.

Trying to live like this can lead to a disabling condition that requires pain medications, and limits the individual’s ability to perform daily activities.

 

Causes

Flatback syndrome was first described in patients who had been treated with Harrington spinal instrumentation.

This was the earliest type of spine implantation to correct scoliosis.

This instrumentation had a tendency to flatten the normal curve or lordosis in the lumbar spine.

This system was used from the 1960s to the 1980s.

With today’s implant systems and techniques, this problem doesn’t really occur anymore.

But not to knock the system, those treated with�Harrington�rods did very well for decades.

The spine compensates for the flattening of the lordosis with the normal discs underneath the fused area.

However, when the discs below the fusion would wear out (degenerate), the patients would lose the ability to stand upright and pain would develop.

Other causes include:

Ankylosing Spondylitis

  • A chronic inflammatory arthritic disease that causes stiffness and loss of lordosis.

Degenerative Disc Disease

  • The normal aging process of the wear and tear/degeneration of the discs, that are the shock absorbers of the spine.
  • In the lumbar area, these discs contribute to normal curvature.
  • As the discs degenerate, the spine stiffens and the curvature disappears.
  • The patient has progressive difficulty in achieving an upright posture.

Post-Laminectomy Syndrome

  • After a laminectomy procedure used to decompress the spine nerves, loss of lordosis and instability can develop.
  • This type of procedure is associated with failed back surgery syndrome.

Compression Fractures

  • Single or multiple vertebrae collapsing can result in loss of lordosis and flatback.
  • The vertebrae are the building blocks of the spine.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis begins with a patient’s history.

A doctor will look for the common symptoms like the presentation of difficulty standing upright along with back pain.

If there is a history of prior surgery or a disease making them susceptible to the syndrome.

Full standing x-rays will be ordered.

The lateral side view is specifically the side that will be helpful (see x-ray).

 

The patient stands, knees straight, the posture can be seen to be stooped forward.

This is depicted by the gravity line/plumb line falling in front of the sacrum.

Finally, MRI’s, CT scans, can be utilized to provide information about the health of the:

  • Discs
  • Vertebrae
  • Degree of openness of the spinal canal to see if there is compression of the spinal nerves or not

 

11860 Vista Del Sol Ste. 128 Flatback Syndrome and Back Pain El Paso Texas

 

Non-surgical Treatment

Patients should try non-surgical treatment first like:

  • Chiropractic
  • Physical therapy
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication

Conditioning and endurance exercise programs can provide relief. But, if the structural problem is too great for conservative therapy then surgery is an option.


 

Proven Reduced Back Pain with *FOOT ORTHOTICS* | El Paso, Tx

 

 

Kent S. Greenawalt, President, and CEO of Foot Levelers discuss how custom foot orthotics can help reduce back pain, low back pain, and sciatica.

In a recent research study published by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM), researchers demonstrated that Foot Levelers custom foot orthotics help considerably reduce back pain and several of its associated health issues.

The research study also demonstrated that Foot Levelers custom foot orthotics and chiropractic care help tremendously reduce low back pain and sciatica.

Foot Levelers custom foot orthotics and chiropractic care helped improve the patient’s overall health and wellness.

Dr. Jimenez is a chiropractor in El Paso, TX who can help provide these benefits through the utilization of chiropractic care and Foot Levelers custom foot orthotics, among other treatments.


 

NCBI Resources

Sometimes low back pain comes out of nowhere, but that sudden twinge in the lower back does have a cause. With some cases, there�s a�trigger, like picking up a heavy object/furniture from an awkward position.� But sometimes it can be a mystery and a challenge to diagnose.

It is important to know the cause of lower back pain to figure out the proper treatment plan. Otherwise, one could receive treatment for the wrong diagnosis and possibly exacerbate the existing injury.