Lower back pain can be very frustrating — it might seem to come out of nowhere, and it can drain your energy during the day or keep you up at night. Sometimes it comes and goes, and a heating pad and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) pain reliever can provide relief for occasional lower back pain. However, lower back pain that lasts for more than a few days or comes back regularly could be a sign of a condition that needs further treatment.
Some of the conditions that can cause lower back pain in females are specific to women’s health, and some of them can happen to anyone. Physical therapy can often help by strengthening muscles to become more resilient to pain, creating more support for muscles and organs, improving circulation, and speeding up the body’s healing process. Pelvic floor physical therapy, in particular, helps women with certain conditions and musculoskeletal issues that can cause lower back pain, such as imbalances, weakness and pain during pregnancy.
This article lists 10 common causes of lower back pain in females.
What causes lower back pain in females?
Sometimes women’s lower back pain is related to menstruation. For instance, you might have lower back pain before or during your monthly cycle, and it can be caused by endometriosis. Older women may have lower back pain related to osteoporosis or arthritis, especially if they’re experiencing menopause. Women at any stage in life can have musculoskeletal issues like pelvic floor dysfunction, muscle strains, sacroiliac joint dysfunction and spinal conditions. Women who are pregnant may experience lower back pain as well.
10 common causes of women’s lower back pain
Spending too much time sitting down, having poor posture and not getting enough exercise are some of the most common reasons why people of any gender develop lower back pain. Physical therapy offers noninvasive treatment options for things like sacroiliac joint dysfunction, sciatica, herniated discs and degenerative conditions. Your PT may do some postural exercises with you or suggest some lifestyle adjustments (e.g., using an ergonomic seat cushion) to keep your back pain from coming back.
Women’s health conditions like menstrual pain, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and endometriosis are often caused by hormones or genetic makeup. For many women, home remedies like heating pads, NSAID pain relievers and dietary changes don’t help. While these conditions can't be avoided altogether, PT can provide some relief. It can help rehabilitate weakness, soreness and stiffness in your muscles, which helps with a wide range of conditions. Proper nutrition is also important to help ensure that your bones will stay strong and your muscles and soft tissue will be healthy.
The following conditions often cause lower back pain in females:
Menstruation or PMS/PMDD — When the uterus prepares to shed its lining every month, the layer of smooth muscle inside it contracts. This can put strain on your lower back, causing pain and soreness. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is similar to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) but with more intense symptoms. Conditioning muscles in your back, abdomen and pelvic floor can help reduce lower back pain from these conditions.
Endometriosis — This is a painful yet common condition that’s caused by deposits of tissue similar to the uterine lining building up outside the uterus. Your body may form adhesions, tissues that bind two structures to each other, or contract certain muscles in response to pain from endometriosis. Physical therapy can help with the pain, and if you ever need surgery for endometriosis, PT can help you make a full and fast recovery.
Sedentary lifestyle or poor posture — Weakness, imbalances and shortened muscles from a sedentary lifestyle or poor posture can cause strain in the lower back. It may feel worse after long periods of sitting or after certain activities that make use of your back muscles. Postural PT activities can help you improve your posture, and your physical therapist can guide you through some exercises to prevent back pain from sitting.
Pelvic floor dysfunction — This is an umbrella term for many different types of dysfunction that can impact reproductive organs and the bladder and bowel as well as the lower back. Toning and conditioning muscles in the pelvic floor, abdomen and lower back can help both men and women reduce certain types of pain. PT for pelvic floor dysfunction usually includes some education about your anatomy and what’s causing your pain.
Muscle strain — Muscles in your lower back can easily become strained with heavy use, especially if they’re not in shape to begin with. Physical therapy first helps release tension and stiffness in sore muscles, and in later phases of treatment, you can create balance and support for your back while building strength.
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction — The sacroiliac (SI) joint connects the bottom of your spine to your pelvis. Because women have some differences in the shape of their sacrum and less surface area in their sacroiliac joint, they tend to have more SI joint dysfunction than men do.
Sciatica — The sciatic nerve travels through the bottom of your spine and down through your hips to the back of your thighs. Sciatica is the compression of this nerve, and it can be painful or cause numbing and weakness. A physical therapist can use a few different techniques to help take some pressure off your sciatic nerve to help with pain in your lower back, hips and legs.
Herniated disc — Rubbery discs with jellylike fluid called a nucleus on the inside sit between each of your vertebrae in your back. A ruptured or herniated disc has a tear in the outside layer, exposing some of the nucleus. This usually happens because of gradual wear and tear. Several different physical therapy treatments can help reduce stiffness and restore movement in the joints, muscles and nerves of your back.
Disc degeneration/osteoarthritis — Disc degeneration and osteoarthritis can happen as a normal part of aging, and osteoporosis can make the process faster and more painful. Your PT can do some manual techniques to help with your pain and show you some specific exercises to help with pain and stiffness. Aquatic therapy can be beneficial for these conditions as well.
Pregnancy — Carrying a child and providing nutrition to help it grow and develop for nine months puts a lot of stress on your body. PT and pelvic floor therapy can help reduce your lower back pain during pregnancy. It can also help make labor and delivery less painful and speed up your recovery afterward.
Find relief for your lower back pain at KC Rehab
It can be difficult to determine what’s causing your lower back pain on your own. KC Rehab can help. The first thing your physical therapist will do is a detailed assessment to learn about your symptoms and observe how your body’s currently functioning. They’ll be paying attention to your strength, flexibility, balance, coordination and posture. Based on this information, your PT will develop a personalized treatment plan with specific goals to help measure your progress.
Physical therapy and pelvic floor physical therapy can help people of all ages get relief from lower back pain from various conditions. Some of the treatments are passive, manual treatments that your PT will perform with a gentle touch. Others are active, such as therapeutic exercises and stretching. Most treatment plans include a few different phases with different treatment combinations.
You can make an appointment with a physical therapist without a referral, and most insurance plans cover PT treatments. Curious to learn more about what you can expect? Our FAQs page is a great place to start.
Ready to get some relief from your lower back pain? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
Comments