Top 3 Back Pain Myths

Have you heard, or said, these top 3 myths about back pain?

1) Myth: "I worked out and now my back hurts, something is definitely wrong."
Fact: When you have pain with exercise and movement, you're not doing anything harmful your spine is made to move. Having pain when you move is not a sign of anything dangerous happening. With proper form, exercise is not bad for you.

2) Myth: "My back pain is flaring up, I did something wrong."
Fact: 'Flare ups' don't mean that you're doing anything wrong. Sometimes back pain may get a little worse or a little better.

3) Myth: "I have a weak core so that's why I have always have back pain."
Fact: Persistent back pain is not caused by a weak core - having a strong core does not stop you from having back pain.

Thank you (and happy PT month) to physical therapist Albert Kaplan for contributing to this content!

[source: O'Sullivan P, Caniero JP, O'Sullivan K, Lin I, Bunzil S, Wernli K, O'Keefe M, Back to Basics: 10 facts about low back pain. BJSM. 2019]