WHERE IS IT? It consists of five vertebrae from the top of your pelvis downwards.

WHAT DOES IT DO? It is the main support for the spinal column, the cervical and thoracic vertebrae sit on top of these five vertebrae (lumbar). Unlike the other parts of the spinal column, they have a curve (concave), this curve takes the pressure of the bottom five vertebrae. If this was not present, the pressure would be unbearable and you would have constant back pain. The lumbar spine's main movements are forwards and backwards (flexion and extension)

HOW ARE THEY INJURED?

Bad posture can cause problems, especially if your back is very flat and has very little curve

Sitting for long periods of time either driving or watching TV

Sudden movements which involve a lot of bending e.g. gardening

Carrying heavy objects

RE HAB

In the first few days, use heat (hot water bottles) and massage to reduce the spasm

Ultra Sound to help to reduce the inflammation around the nerve and disc which might be giving you referred pain down your leg.

After the first few days, start to do mobilising exercises for the disc e.g. pelvic tilt, side to side rotations and the catch stretch. These exercises move the disc three dimensionally, and generally keep the disc from stiffening up

After things have settled down, some mobilising techniques (Pas) can be done to help get the disc moving again

If there is continuous pain down the leg, traction can be administered to pull the discs apart to relieve the nerve pain

Special nerve stretches can be done to help alleviate the nerve pain

Finally keep the back exercise programme going indefinitely as part of your daily exercises