Low back pain is by far the most common reason to see a chiropractor. 30% of the UK is suffering with it at any one point, and to put it simply, fixing it is our bread and butter.

Basic Anatomy

The low back, lumbar spine, consists of 5 vertebral bones separated by discs. At the bottom is the Sacrum, a triangular bone which is joined to the pelvis by the 2 large 'sacro-iliac' joints.

Passing between each vertebra are bundles of nerves from the spinal cord supplying the low back, legs and feet. Often, low back issues will effect these nerves, producing a wide variety of symptoms in the many areas they supply.

Conditions treated:

Sprain / Strain - The lower spine, also called the lumbar spine, depends on soft tissues to help hold the body upright and support weight from the upper body. If put under too much stress, the low back muscles or soft tissues can become injured and painful.

Facet Dysfunction - The joints of the spine are called facet joints. The tissue around them can become inflamed or irritated, it can cause pain and restriction of the lower back area, sometimes into the buttocks and tops of the legs.

Sacro-iliac Joint Dysfunction - The tissues surrounding the joints between the sacrum and pelvis can become irritated and inflamed leading to pain over the base of the spine, buttock and even into the leg.

Scoliosis -  Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that occurs most often during the growth spurt just before puberty. There are many benefits to receiving chiropractic treatment for pain relief and improving joint, muscle and nerve function, minimising the curve.

Sciatica - Irritation of the sciatic nerve which affects the deep tissue in the buttocks, down the inside of the thigh to the back of the calf. Often associated with low back pain, it can produce pain, numbness and tingling and in some cases, weakness within the areas it supplies.

Piriformis Syndrome - Piriformis syndrome is a condition in which the piriformis muscle, located in the buttock region, spasms and causes buttock pain. The sciatic nerve passes through the piriformis muscle, and can be compressed as it does so.

Disc Herniation - A disc between one of the lumbar vertabrae can bulge (herniate) causing irritation of the nearby nerves. This can cause leg and/or buttock pain. It often results in reflex loss, a variety of nerve symptoms, numbness and tingling and even weakness in the muscles of the leg and foot.