Page 117 - ASOP ROT Study Guide

4. CLASSIFICATION OF VERTEBRAL CONDITIONS
In such a short unit it is impossible to be comprehensive so I will classify back and neck pain into the
following two groups of common conditions:
1. Related to the spondylopathies:
(a) Aches and sprains
(b) Mechanical back pain
(c) Spondylolisthesis
2. Related to the nervous tissue:
(a) Disc prolapse
(b) Bony root entrapment
4 . 1 Backache and Neckache Related to the Spondylopathies

4 . 1 . 1 Back sprains

Etiology
As mentioned above almost everyone will suffer from an episode of back pain at some time in their lives.
Most back pain is associated with awkward twisting, or poor lifting, causing muscle or ligament injuries.
Figure below shows a poor and a good lifting posture. Reducing the distance between the back and
the weight results in less leverage and reduced spinal loading. These injuries are called sprains and this
type of backache can be distinguished from that which has a neurological cause by the absence of signs
of nerve compression.

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http://www.nbchiro.com.au/general/how-
to-minimise-the-risk-of-low-back-injury

Management
Such injuries require a brief period of rest followed by a gradual return to normal activities. AjQti-
inflammatory drugs are said to help relieve symptoms, although simple analgesia is usually sufficient.
These conditions are common but a careful investigation should be carried out to exclude the
possibility that a more serious condition may exist.

4 .1 . 2 Mechanical backache

This is an ill-defined condition but really may be considered as recurrent back sprains.
Etiology
The cause of mechanical back problems is unknown although, as the name implies, it is non-
neurological.