Almost everybody will have lower back pain at some point in their life which can interfere with work, recreation, or basic daily activities. In fact, Americans spend over $50 billion each year on low back pain, and it is the most common reason for work-related disability.

There are several different causes of lower back pain including muscle spasms, degenerative joint disease, arthritis, degenerative disc disease, disc herniations, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, facet syndrome, sciatica, and sprain/strain, just to name a few. Fortunately, most episodes of low back pain can go away relatively quickly within a few days.

Generally there are two different classifications of lower back pain, acute or chronic. Acute lower back pain typically lasts for only a few days to a few weeks, and most of the time it is mechanical in nature. The pain may be caused by a sports injury, repetitive motions, sudden impacts such as a car accident, or other stresses on the spinal muscles and vertebrae. Symptoms of acute lower back pain can vary from muscle ache, decreased range of motion, stabbing pain, or an inability to stand up straight. Chronic lower back pain refers to pain that lasts for more than 3 months. Chronic lower back pain can often be progressive and it may take longer to effectively treat. Contact Essential Motion Chiropractic in Fort Collins, Colorado to learn more about lower back pain treatment options.