Myths about back pain
- Rachel Johns
- Sep 19, 2019
- 1 min read
Education is power, so let’s bust a few myths about back pain and how you should be managing it!
BED REST: “I need to rest to let my back heal.”
MYTH! Not moving your spine is possibly one of the worst things you could do. Our spines are designed to move, so when we have pain, they respond best to staying as active as possible!
AVOID LIFTING: “I’m not allowed to lift anymore since hurting my back.”
NEGATIVE! While it may be necessary to reduce lifting loads in the earlier stages of recovery, when performed with good technique, lifting is a perfectly safe task you can get back to.
AVOID ACTIVITY: “Exercise will make my back pain worse.”
ABSOLUTELY NOT! Exercise is SO important for back pain recovery. Movement and activity is what prevents our spines becoming rigid, weak and tight. Reducing loads, modifying exercises and adapting your training is ideal for staying active in a safe manner in the early stages of recovery, but it is absolutely possible to get back to the training you know and love.
IMAGING: “I can’t see my Physio until I have a scan.”
X-Ray, Ultrasound, CT and MRI scans are rarely necessary before starting Physio, and most findings don’t correlate with the pain you might be experiencing. Physio’s are also highly trained to identify potential red flags that may warrant the need for further investigations, and they will always advise you if this is the case.
Reframing back pain through education shifts management from fear avoidance to evidence based progression. Many misconceptions persist because acute discomfort is equated with structural damage. Unlike environments such as https://www.arg.org.nz/ The Pokies that amplify stimulus to sustain engagement, rehabilitation prioritises graded exposure and load tolerance. Australian health authorities emphasise remaining active as a core principle in back pain recovery.