Conditions

A list of conditions typically treated by Back2Yourself's back exercises program.
Please NOTE: This list is general and does NOT necessarily apply to each individual case

  • Low Back Pain - Low back pain is one of the most common disorders in the United States. About 80 percent of people have at least one episode of low back pain during their lifetime.

    Factors that increase the risk of developing back pain include smoking, obesity, older age, female gender, physically strenuous work, sedentary work, a stressful job, job dissatisfaction and psychological factors such as anxiety or depression.

  • Sciatica — Sciatica refers to the most common symptom of radiculopathy. It is a pain that occurs when one of the five spinal nerve roots, which are branches of the sciatic nerve, is irritated, causing a sharp or burning pain that extends down the back or side of the thigh, usually to the foot or ankle. A person may also feel numbness or tingling. If a disc is herniated, sciatic pain often increases with coughing, sneezing, or bearing down.
  • Herniated Disc — Too much wear and tear on spinal discs can lead to herniation of a disc, in which the outer covering is weakened or torn, and the soft inner tissue extrudes. Herniated discs can cause leg pain or weakness if the disc pinches a nerve root. However, herniated discs are frequently seen on x-rays, even in people with no back pain. Herniated discs usually heal over time because the body breaks down the excess disc material and water within the disc is absorbed, relieving pressure or irritation on the nerve.

    A bulging disc is more common than a hernated disc and is seen in half of people who have no back pain. A bulging disc usually causes no symptoms, although occasionally it can cause sciatica (see "Sciatica").

  • Degenerative Disc Disease - Wear and tear can lead to degenerative disc disease, or the breakdown of the spinal discs, with small cracks and tears and/or loss of fluid in the discs. This can lead to other changes including the formation of bone spurs. Calling this condition a "disease" is somewhat misleading because these changes occur with normal aging and frequently cause no symptoms. In fact, many people have degenerative disc disease seen on x-rays or other imaging studies but have no pain or other symptoms.
  • Other Conditions typically apply to Back2Yourself Back Exercises Program
    • Scoliosis
    • Sciatic nerve impingement
    • Cervical nerve root impingement
    • SI joint dysfunction
    • Thoracic outlet syndrome
    • Post surgical back pain
    • Fibromyalgia
    • L1 - L5 disc herniation
    • Repetitive strain injury
    • Rheumatoid arthritis
    • Neck pain
    • Spinal stenosis
    • Ischemic spondylolisthesis
    • Cervical Herniation
    • Lumbar Herniation
    • Cervical Stenosis
    • Lumbar Stenosis
    • Arthritis
    • Muscle Tension
    • Myofascial Pain
    • Lumbar Disc Problems
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Repetitive Motion Disorders
    • Lumbar Facet Syndrome
    • Cervical Facet Syndrome

Last updated: Aug 5th, 2009
Reviewed by Maayan Agmon, BPT, Aug 4th, 2009