Physical Therapy Management of Low Back Pain

Abstract

Low back pain is the most common musculoskeletal health problem that can occur to working age and elderly, commonly describes as pain and discomfort below posterior of the costal margin level and above the inferior gluteal folds. The prevalence rate of low back pain is about 50-80 percent of general population. Low back pain can be categorized in 3 types - acute, subacute and chronic low back pain. Almost the low back pain is an acute pain which recover in 6 weeks. The physical function, psychological, sociability and economy can be adversely affected by Low back pain. There are three major managements approach in low back pain; medication treatment, non-medication treatment and operative treatment. Physical therapy is kind of the non-medication or conservative treatments which is effective over 80 percent. Education and home exercise programs are the main guidelines of physical therapy treatment for low back pain. The advantages of education and home exercise are self-home-based exercise program, economic and high safety. The benefits of brief education and home exercise program are decreasing pain and improve muscle strength and flexibility. Moreover, it improves ability of body functional movement and physical activities capacity. The consequences of all mentions above are returning to work normally, lower health care expenses, reduce the incidence of disability and prevent recurrent of low back pain.