Low back pain stands as the primary cause of disability worldwide. Holding unhelpful beliefs may lead to heightened levels of pain, increased disability, extended time off work, heightened medication use, and an increased tendency to seek healthcare. It’s important to recognize that unhelpful beliefs are prevalent among individuals with and without back pain, often reinforced by media, communities, industry groups, and well-intentioned healthcare providers. Such beliefs can significantly influence behavior and psychological responses to pain.
The presence of unhelpful beliefs may result in undesirable behaviors like avoidance of normal spinal postures, certain movements (such as bending or twisting), and various activities, including those involving spine loading, physical activity, social interactions, and daily living tasks. Additionally, unhelpful beliefs can lead to protective behaviors like muscle guarding, bracing, and overly cautious movements, which collectively contribute to heightened feelings of fear. This fear may drive individuals towards biomedical or invasive treatments, including medication, injections, devices, and surgical interventions, aimed at addressing perceived faults or damaged structures.
Unhelpful beliefs foster a negative mindset about low back pain, generating fear of engaging in activities and anxiety about the future. Coupled with a lack of self-belief and inadequate pain management skills, this negative mindset can result in deteriorating mental health, including increased stress, anxiety, and depression.
While adopting a positive mindset may be challenging, scientific evidence suggests its association with lower levels of pain, reduced disability, and decreased reliance on healthcare. Once serious pathology is ruled out, understanding helpful facts can bring about a positive mindset change, aiding in better coping with back pain.
It’s crucial to acknowledge that low back pain is not a life-threatening medical condition, and most episodes improve with age. A negative mindset, fear avoidance behavior, negative recovery expectations, and poor coping methods are more closely tied to ongoing pain than tissue damage. Scans or imaging results do not determine prognosis or the likelihood of future episodes. Graduated exercise and movement in all directions are safe and beneficial for the spine. Posture and spine alignment do not predict low back pain or its duration. A weak core does not cause low back pain, and spine movement and loading are safe, building structural resilience through a progressive program.
Painful flare-ups often relate to changes in activity, stress, and mood rather than tissue damage. Effective and affordable care from Bea Sports Injury Clinic for low back pain includes education, understanding pain, fostering a positive mindset, optimising physical and mental health through regular engagement in physical activity, exercise, social interactions, healthy sleep habits, maintaining a healthy body weight, and adhering to work or daily routines.
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