Back Pain & Pelvic Girdle Pain

According to the data collected from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in 2014/2015, 1 in 6 Australian’s had reported back problems within that 12 month period. This translates to over 3.7 million Australians. The most common age range for back problems was reported between the ages of 65 to 79 and the least common age bracket was between birth to 15 years of age (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW); 2017)).
Some of the most common presentations of back and pelvic pain include;

• Disc bulge / herniation / sequestration;
• Ligamentous sprain;
• Muscular strain;
• Nerve root compression;
• Curvature of the spine;
• Arthritis;
• Sciatica;
• Osteoporosis;
• Spondylosis & Spondylolisthesis;
• Facet joint degeneration;
• Postural change;
• Poor muscular control around the trunk and pelvis;
• Pelvic instability;
• Leg length discrepancy;
• Degenerative disc disease;
• Sacro-iliac joint dysfunction;
• Compression fracture; and
• Spinal canal stenosis

Symptoms of the Back and Pelvis are often related. Symptoms in these regions can be influenced by a variety of sources, therefore by undergoing a comprehensive assessment, your Physiotherapist will be able establish the underlying cause of your complaints.
Correct diagnosis of your pelvic and back symptoms involves a thorough examination of structures and function including:

• Spine as a whole and the individual vertebrae;
• Pelvic function and its alignment to the spine;
• Activation of the superficial and deep muscles of the lumbar, abdominal and hip regions;
• Upper thigh muscle length and strength; and
• Your individual biomechanics when standing and during movement.

Call Sophie to discuss your symptoms.