You finally feel ready to get back to your normal routine. It’s not as painful anymore, your movement has improved and you believe the issue is resolved. Then, after a few weeks of training or daily activity, that same back pain returns, making you frustrated.
This cycle is seen in athletes and active people. Back pain is one of the most common complaints made and although resting may help with the discomfort, it won’t fix the actual cause. If the cause of the pain is not treated, the pain will probably return.
That is why finding the root cause matters more than treating the symptoms. Health Canada identifies chronic pain as a major public health concern, with back pain being one of the most commonly reported conditions.
Why Back Pain Is Common Among Athletes and Active Adults
Sports place much greater demands on the spine than everyday activities because running, lifting, twisting, and jumping repeatedly load the same muscles, joints and discs. Although each movement may feel harmless, that stress gradually builds over time and can begin affecting the back.
As training volume increases, so do the demands, as the spine is not able to recover as quickly from the training session. This repetitive loading can cause fatigue to the accumulations and can cause recurring pain. Chronic back pain affects approximately 1 in every 5 Canadian adults and is even more common among active adults.
6 Common Causes of Recurring Back Pain
There’s a reason behind recurring back pain. Often there is an underlying issue that continually puts stress on the back and this causes the pain to return. The most frequent problems encountered in athletes and active people are:
- Muscle imbalances: The spine has to bear extra stress when one side is stronger than the other.
- Poor movement mechanics: Repeated incorrect movement patterns can increase stress on the back.
- Limited hip mobility: Tight hips cause an excessive amount of movement in the lower back.
- Weak core stability: A weak core provides less support for the spine and puts more stress on the back.
- Repetitive overuse: When the movements are repeated over a period of time without rest, the back can become exhausted.
- Old injuries that never fully healed: Old injuries can cause persistent issues that can bring pain back.
Warning Signs That Your Back Pain Shouldn’t Be Ignored
Many cases of back pain get better with rest and recovery, but if back pain is persistent or getting worse, it’s a sign of a potential issue that requires care. Instead of hoping it will disappear, pay attention to the following warning signs that suggest your back needs professional care:
- Recurrent pain despite regular rest and recovery.
- Regularly sees stiffness before or after activity.
- Pain that has started affecting your athletic performance or training output.
- Loss of freedom of movement in your body during activity.
- Trouble recovering between workouts.
How Recurring Back Pain Can Affect Athletic Performance
Recurring back pain affects more than just your back. The pain can also alter your movements and training, which can begin to impact your overall athletic ability over time. The changes that become apparent include:
- Reduced strength: Pain may restrict the amount of weight or intensity of training that your body can do.
- Decreased flexibility: If muscles around a painful area are tight, your natural flexibility may be limited.
- Loss of power: A painful or unstable spine will make explosive movements less effective, such as sprinting and jumping.
- Reduced endurance: Your body needs more energy to deal with pain, making you tired more easily.
- Compensation injuries: When you avoid pain by changing how you move, this can also put additional strain on other muscles and joints.
How Professional Chiropractic Care Can Help Active Adults Stay Moving
It’s important to get to the bottom of what causes your back pain, rather than ‘managing’ it every time it comes back. A chiropractic examination will assess your spine, motion and function to find the issue with:
- Comprehensive spinal assessment.
- Movement evaluation.
- Chiropractic treatment.
- Rehabilitation strategies.
- Personalized performance-focused care.
- Long-term injury prevention.
Explore How Holistic and Chiropractic Solutions Can Help With Recurring Back Pain!
Routine back pain doesn’t need to be a permanent part of an active lifestyle. By treating the cause rather than treating the symptoms over and over again, you will experience better long-term results. An Ontario 2024 study found that the top 5% of patients had 49% of the related health care costs.
A chiropractic assessment includes the evaluation of the cause behind recurring pain, rather than just temporary relief. Your treatment is according to your sport, activity level or your intended recovery goals and is focused at enhancing your movement and minimizing future flares.
If recurring back pain is limiting your performance, professional care can help. Visit Dr Sandhar Wellness to learn more about chiropractic treatment for back pain and book your assessment to start treating the cause instead of recurring symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Why does my back pain keep coming back after exercise?
When pain occurs with exercise, it is a red flag of an underlying issue that must be addressed this could be muscle imbalance or poor movement.
Q2. Can I keep exercising if I have recurring back pain?
This is fine if it doesn’t cause a lot of pain… But if it does, continuing to push through the pain will make the pain worse.
Q3. When should I seek professional treatment for recurring back pain?
Get medical attention if pain returns frequently after rest, interferes with performance or is accompanied by stiffness, loss of flexibility and slower recovery between workouts.
Q4. Can chiropractic care help with recurring back pain in athletes?
Yes… Chiropractic treatment identifies the underlying cause of the recurring pain and treats it directly, helping patients to not only relieve the pain but also to prevent future injuries, especially for the active individual.
