Lower Back Pain: Why Rest and Scans Aren't the Answer
If you have lower back pain, you're in very good company. Between 60% and 80% of adults will have it at some point in their lives. In Nairobi, long commutes, desk jobs and weekend gym sessions all play a part. The question isn't whether back pain will happen, but how quickly you recover and whether it keeps coming back.
What causes lower back pain?
More than 90% of lower back pain is "non-specific". That means no single damaged structure is to blame. Instead, it's usually a mix of stiff joints, tired or weak muscles, long hours of sitting, poor sleep and stress.
Only about 1–2% of cases have a serious cause, and around 5–10% involve an irritated nerve, such as sciatica.
Common signs include:
- Aching or stiffness across the lower back
- Pain when bending, lifting or standing up after sitting
- Pain that eases when you move around
- Pain that keeps coming back every few months
Do you need an X-ray or MRI?
Usually not, especially in the first month. Guidelines don't recommend routine scans for everyday back pain because they rarely change the treatment. Many people without pain show "wear and tear" on scans too. A good physical assessment tells us far more.
What actually helps
Research is clear: education, staying active and exercise are the foundation of recovery. Hands-on therapy helps when combined with exercise. Back belts and long bed rest don't help.
At Katasi Physiotherapy, your plan may include:
- A full assessment of how you move, sit, lift and sleep
- Strengthening for your back, core and glutes
- Manual therapy and dry needling for pain relief
- A personalised home exercise programme
- Work, driving and gym advice to prevent flare-ups
When to go to hospital immediately
Get emergency care if back pain comes with numbness around the groin, loss of bladder or bowel control, weakness in both legs, fever or follows a serious fall.
Book your assessment
Let's fix the cause, not just the pain. Book at Katasi Physiotherapy, Mogotio Road off Muthithi Road, Westlands. Call or WhatsApp 0705 717 353.
Source: Physiopedia – Low Back Pain
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