Acute Low Back Problems in Adults

Acute Low Back Problems in Adults is organized by Homestead Schools, Inc. This Course has been approved for a maximum of 30 Contact Hours.

Course Description:
If you have lower back pain, you are not alone. Nearly everyone at some point has back pain that interferes with work, routine daily activities, or recreation. Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on low back pain, the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work. Back pain is the second most common neurological ailment in the United States - only headache is more common. Fortunately, most occurrences of low back pain go away within a few days. Others take much longer to resolve or lead to more serious conditions.

Acute or short-term low back pain generally lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Most acute back pain is mechanical in nature — the result of trauma to the lower back or a disorder such as arthritis. Pain from trauma may be caused by a sports injury, work around the house or in the garden, or a sudden jolt such as a car accident or other stress on spinal bones and tissues. Symptoms may range from muscle ache to shooting or stabbing pain, limited flexibility and/or range of motion, or an inability to stand straight. Occasionally, pain felt in one part of the body may “radiate” from a disorder or injury elsewhere in the body. Some acute pain syndromes can become more serious if left untreated.

Chronic back pain is measured by duration - pain that persists for more than 3 months is considered chronic. It is often progressive and the cause can be difficult to determine.

Learning Objectives:
After completing this course you’ll be able to:
• Distinguish between acute and chronic low back pain.
• Describe the bone structures that make up the back
• Describe various causes of lower back pain.
• Explain various diagnostic methods used to diagnose low back pain.
• List 10 tips to a healthier back.

Course Contents:
Overview
• What structures make up the back?
• What causes lower back pain?
• Who is most likely to develop low back pain?
• What conditions are associated with low back pain?
• How is low back pain diagnosed?
• How is back pain treated?
• Can back pain be prevented?
• Quick tips to a healthier back.
• What research is being done?

Note: All courses must be completed within 12 months from the date of purchase.