011 - Robin Kerr - Why is there still so much back pain?

Show Notes by Elaine Stevenson from The Myotherapy Reading Room - https://www.patreon.com/MyotherapyReadingRoom  

 

Robin Kerr is an Australian Physiotherapist whose special interests include pelvic floor issues, low back pain, pelvic pain, persistent pain and motion training. In addition to her qualifications in Physiotherapy, Robin also holds post-graduate qualifications Continence Management and Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation.  Robin has a diverse range of experience including stints spent working with the RAAF, with track and field athletes, including those involved in international competition, and in private practice in sports, orthopaedic and women’s health settings. 

 

In this podcast, Robin gets into the nitty gritty of back pain, what it is, and what we can do about it.

 

Themes covered in the discussion include:

- How common is back pain

- What is pain and why do we experience it

- Neuroplasticity and the role of the brain in pain

- Tissue damage vs pain; is it possible to have one without the other

- Tissue healing and protective mechanisms

- Central nervous system issues

- How the way we manage back pain (as clinicians) can sometimes make it worse

- How management of back pain has evolved over time and what patients should expect from their clinicians

- What clinicians mean when they refer to the biopsychosocial approach and why it’s important

- Factors indicative of a rapid recovery

- Potential ‘red flags’ which may suggest persistent pain

- The importance of staying active

- Pain recurrence, what it is how to deal with it

- The role of movement and exercise 

- General advice for patients with back pain, including what to expect from your health professional

- Pain as a nervous system issue

- Suggestions for ways to ‘hack’ your nervous system

- Future directions in back management 

 

Related Reading and Resources:

The Lancet – Low Back Pain Series (2018): https://www.thelancet.com/series/low-back-pain

 

Individual Papers: 

Buchbinder R, van Tulder M, Öberg B et al. Low back pain: a call for action. Lancet 2018; 391(10137): 2384-2388.

Clark S, Horton R. Low back pain: a major global challenge. Lancet 2018; 391(10137): 2302.

Foster NE, Anema JR, Cherkin D et al. Prevention and treatment of low back pain: evidence, challenges, and promising directions. Lancet 2018; 391(10137): 2368-2383.

Hartvigsen J, Hancock MJ, Kongsted A et al. What low back pain is and why we need to pay attention. Lancet 2018; 391(10137): 2356-2367.

 

Links:

Biography: https://www.alchemyinmotion.com.au/team-member/robin-kerr/  

Website:  https://www.alchemyinmotion.com.au 

Email:   admin@alchemyinmotion.com.au