Back Pain

Back pain or back ache is a symptom that can arise from many causes. Many cases of back pain and sore backs are caused by stresses on the muscles and ligaments that support the spine.

Follow the links below to find information on back pain, including low back pain.

Reviewed January 2009

Printer friendly page

Related HealthInsite Topics

Systematic Reviews of Treatments for Back Pain
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to systematic reviews of the evidence for the effectiveness of treatments for back pain.

18 Resources Found
Results 1 to 18 displayed.

Title:   Lower back pain
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   Information on the symptoms, treatment and diagnosis of lower back pain written by professional health specialists.
Date:   Dec 2009

Title:   Back pain - schoolbags
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Schoolbags can cause back pain and damage the spine in children. Reduce the risk by buying an appropriate size backpack and making sure the bag is not too heavy.
Date:   Jul 2009

Title:   Lower back pain
Publisher:   Department of Health Western Australia
Description:   Diagnostic imaging algorithm for patients with acute low back pain. It highlights the 'red flag' symptoms/signs that prevent indiscriminate use of plain radiography for this complaint.
Date:   Apr 2009

Title:   Back pain in pregnancy
Publisher:   The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Description:   Consult this chart only after first consulting chart 117 Back pain Pain and aching in the middle and lower back are common during pregnancy They are usually caused by the effects of hormones that soft
Date:   Mar 2009

Title:   Back pain
Publisher:   The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Description:   Most people have at least one episode of back pain during their lives and they usually recover without needing medical help Back pain is often due to poor posture However it may be a sign of damage to
Date:   Mar 2009

Title:   Joint and back problems
Publisher:   The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Description:   Serious joint and back problems are uncommon in children. A painful or swollen joint is most often the result of a minor strain or sprain of the muscles and ligaments surrounding the joint.
Date:   Mar 2009

Title:   Back problems
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Back pain is common. Some of the more common back problems include soft tissue injuries, disc problems, postural stress, sciatica, structural defects, disease and fracture. Any structure in the back has the potential to cause pain if affected by injury or disease.
Date:   Mar 2009

Title:   Back pain - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Most back problems can be prevented by proper use of the spine and keeping it in good shape.
Date:   Feb 2009

Title:   Back pain
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Back pain can be caused by injury, inflammation, tension or spasm of the muscle, ligament, cartilage or bone. Arthritis, muscle strain, osteoporosis, sciatica and stress are common causes. Treatment can include rest, exercise, medication and manipulation. Staying active is an important part of managing back pain.
Date:   Jan 2009

Title:   Back pain
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   Back pain, particularly lower back pain, is very common. Provides information covering the symptioms, diagnosis and treatment of back pain.
Date:   Jan 2009

Title:   Back pain - disc problems
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   A ruptured or slipped disc is a common problem in the intervertebral discs, which are spongy cushions found between the vertebrae of the spine. Degenerative disc disease can also cause back pain. Risk factors for disc problems include obesity, lack of physical activity and poor muscle tone.
Date:   Sep 2008

Title:   Back pain - children
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Back pain is common in children, particularly during adolescence. Poor posture, inappropriate forms of exercise and carrying heavy schoolbags can cause back pain. If pain is persistent, and felt in the same place, it should be investigated by your medical practitioner.
Date:   Mar 2008

Title:   School backpacks
Publisher:   Raising Children Network (RCN)
Description:   A report from CHOICE magazine on choosing a school backpack
Date:   May 2006

Title:   X STOP? Interspinous Process Decompression System for spinal stenosis
Publisher:   Australian Safety and Efficacy Register of New Interventional Procedures - Surgical (ASERNIP-S)
Description:   The X STOP implant is indicated for the treatment of patients aged 50 years or older who suffer from pain or neurogenic intermittent claudication secondary to a confirmed diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis.
Date:   Mar 2006

Title:   New Zealand acute low back pain guide, incorporating the guide to assessing psychosocial yellow flags in acute low back pain
Publisher:   Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) (New Zealand)
Description:   This Guide provides an evidence-based approach to the assessment and treatment of acute low back pain for the prevention of chronic pain and disability. It follows an extensive review of the international literature and wide consultation with professional groups in New Zealand.
Date:   Oct 2004

Title:   Weight loss helps bad backs - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   People with back injuries should not lift objects slowly and should never bend to lift far away from the body or lift something off the floor.
Date:   Dec 2001

Title:   Consumer summary: Percutaneous endoscopic laser discectomy
Publisher:   Australian Safety and Efficacy Register of New Interventional Procedures - Surgical (ASERNIP-S)
Description:   The purpose of this review by ASERNIP-S was to systematically review the medical literature regarding the safety and efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic laser discectomy compared with open discectomy for the surgical treatment of herniated lumbar discs.
Date:   Jun 2000

Title:   Good news about bad backs
Publisher:   Multicultural Health Communication Service (NSW)
Description:   Back pain is so widespread that up to 80 per cent of us are likely to have it at some time in our lives - after headache and the common cold, it's the most common cause of time off work. But the good news is that most back pain is caused by only minor problems and usually improves within two weeks.
Date:   Apr 1999
Results 1 to 18 displayed.