A quick Google search on lower back pain will pull up over 58-million pages of information. Just because it is on the Internet doesn't necessary mean it is the latest and greatest information on lower back pain.

Here are some of the top myths regarding lower back pain:

1. BACK PAIN CAN BE CURED BY ONE SPECIFIC TREATMENT

Countless patients have come to me saying "My neighbor had the same thing and had XYZ treatment that cured his pain"�would this work for me?"� Could it help? Maybe, but the reality is that there is no standard "cure"� for lower back pain. What has worked for your neighbor may not (and more likely won't) work for you. Everyone is different and the source of pain is not always the same from person to person. In today's market, there are many different kinds of specialists (neurosurgeons, orthopedists, physical therapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, etc"�) that deal with the spine and often don't agree with the cause and a treatment of lower back pain. The best advice one could give is to start conservative and get different opinions from different providers. Consider a trial course of that provider's recommendation to see if it makes a difference with your pain and overall performance.

2. LOWER BACK PAIN IS CAUSED BY WEAK ABS

I've had numerous patients come in saying "I think my lower back pain is because of my weak abs"�. This seems logical and makes sense to most people. These days, everyone is talking about strengthening the "core"� muscles believing this will help prevent or even "cure"� lower back pain. According to Stuart McGill PhD at University of Waterloo, one of the world's foremost experts on spinal biomechanics, indicates improved muscle ENDURANCE is a better preventer of lower back pain as opposed to STRENGTH. One of the major problems is that the lower back stabilizing muscles are not conditioned properly. They fatigue out which leads to altered incorrect muscle pathways that will lead to pain. If these incorrect pathways are identified and corrected with conditioning exercises, then pain tends to decrease.

3. THE MORE FLEXIBLE A PERSON IS THE LESS LOWER BACK PAIN THEY EXPERIENCE

Having more flexibility in your lower back does not mean you will have more protection for your lower back. Research actually shows the opposite. The more flexibility a person has in the spine the better chance for injury and/or pain. HOWEVER, do not confuse flexibility with stretching!!! Stretching is essential for your joints and muscles, especially before and after increased physical activity. While yoga is a great idea to help maintain flexibility, it also increases endurance in the muscles that support the spine. Keep in mind, you want to make sure you have proper technique.

4. LIFT WITH YOUR KNEES AND NOT YOUR BACK

How many of us have heard this one? The truth is lifting with your knees will more than likely lead to increased knee pain and/or injury. When lifting, you want to keep the object close to the body and stiffen your abdominal region but lift with your HIPS not your knees and do not twist.

5. NO PAIN"�NO GAIN

I hope my old high school football coach is reading this, but this statement could not be further from the truth. Pain is the body's way of warning you"�SO LISTEN TO IT!!! It is like the body's version of a "check engine light." If you are performing an exercise or activity that causes pain, your body will alter muscle motor patterns and inhibit muscles. This will lead to further imbalances in the body. If it hurts"�then stop. Change how you are performing the activity. If that doesn't help, then see a professional.

We have just scratched the surface about myths regarding lower back pain. If you are suffering, don't lose hope and don't give up. Doing nothing can further complicate the condition, not to mention the added stress and suffering. As Stuart McGill says, "Optimal back health does not come from doing nothing."� Finding the appropriate balance between flexibility, stability, strength, and power is the key to any lower back condition.

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According to the National Safety Council (NSA), approximately 12 million car accidents occur annually involving 20 million cars. Using the insurance industry statistics, you will be in a car accident once every 17.9 years. Whiplash injuries are experienced by over one-third of all people involved in car accidents worldwide. It is estimated the annual medical costs associated with whiplash injuries is $10 billion in the United States.

Wikipedia describes whiplash as "a non-medical term describing a range of injuries to the neck caused by or related to a sudden distortion of the neck associated with extension."� It is a non-specific term with a wide variety of symptoms that a person may exhibit following a car accident. These symptoms may include:

• Neck Pain

• Headaches

• Arm Pain

• Numbness/Tingling

• Fatigue

• Difficulty Sleeping

• Dizziness

• Ringing in the Ears

• Disturbed sense of Smell

• Memory Difficulties

• Blurred Vision

• Back Pain

One of the biggest misconceptions is that car damage correlates with injury and/or injury severity. It would make sense that a car accident with little damage to the car should only result in minor injury, right? However, this couldn't be further from the truth.

When it comes to car accidents, there is overwhelming evidence that shows there is no correlation between injury severity and car damage. Most cars can withstand a collision of 12-MPH showing little to no property damage. However, the Spine Research Institute of San Diego estimates 60 percent of injuries from car accident occur at speeds between 6-12 MPH. When property damage is minimal, it means the car did not absorb the energy from the accident; instead, the energy is transferred to the occupants, resulting in injury. According to research from Peugeot S.A./Renaust Laboratory of Accidentology and Biomechanics, the risk for whiplash injury is actually greater when below 9.3 MPH compared to speeds above it.

Another issue with these types of accidents is pain will not always develop right away. In the majority of cases I've seen, the pain will develop within the first three-five days. However, it is not uncommon for pain to develop a few weeks after an accident. This delay onset of symptoms is referred to as Late Whiplash Syndrome. According to the journal Pain Practice (2008), it is estimated that 6.2 percent of all Americans currently suffer from Late Whiplash Syndrome. That is why it is always important to see a specialist following these types of accidents.

If you are injured in a car accident, then keep an open mind regarding your treatment options. An individual has a wide variety of options regarding treatment, but manual therapy (chiropractic, physical therapy, massage therapy, etc.) tends to have higher successful outcomes. A recent randomized nine-week trial comparison of medicine (Celebrex, Vioxx, or Paracetamol), acupuncture and chiropractic care showed chiropractic manipulation to be the superior treatment regarding chronic spinal pain. Remember, what worked for your co-worker of friend may not work for you. If you are receiving care and not improving, then you may want to try a different specialty.

Since there is no clear consensus for treatment options about the best approach to treat these injuries, you may get a variety of opinions depending on the specialist. Regardless of the specialist you see, you will first undergo an in-depth history and examination to determine the exact source of the pain. Remember, whiplash is a very generic term for soft tissue damage in the neck. It is important to determine which soft tissues structures that are causing the pain.

Secondly, you want to a specific treatment plan developed for you with goals to strive for regarding therapy. It is my personal opinion that a successful treatment plan involves a multidisciplinary approach that includes manual therapy, rehabilitation and massage therapy. Since healing time will vary from person to person, I do not like to put a time limit on treatment. However, treatment goals should be obtained, and pain should always be decreasing or the treatment plan needs to be modified.

At the end of the day, the best way to avoid being injured in a car accident is just not being in one. Pay attention to your surroundings. Focus on your driving (stay off the phone - talking on the phone increases your chance of accident by 400 percent) and obey the traffic laws. If you are in an accident and experience whiplash, seek the treatment option that's right for your injury.

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