Your Back Pain – Explained

Back pain is one of the most common problems that plague people these days. Are you one of these people who have or are experiencing back pain? Perhaps the biggest problem associated with this condition is that we understand so little about it. We are often unaware that some of the things that we repeatedly do each day are the ones that cause back pain. As a result, we keep doing the things we normally do and we also keep complaining about the pain in our backs. This vicious cycle can seem endless, indeed. Well, the good news is that there are easy ways to put an end to this cycle, and the key lies in understanding what causes back pain so you can address it properly.

Poor posture is perhaps the most common cause of back pain. Your spine has a natural inward curve, and the proper posture conforms to this natural curve. When you exhibit poor posture, your spine is placed in the wrong alignment, thus putting a lot of pressure on your back muscles and on the spine itself. In this case, pressure is usually felt mostly in the lumbar area (lower back) and over time, this will result in excruciating pain. Maintaining proper posture at all times is therefore one of the best ways to avoid back pain. You may want to use lumbar support devices to ensure that you are able to maintain good posture at all times.

Lack of exercise can also lead to back pain. How? Well, if your muscles are not exercised regularly, chances are great that they will become weak. Weak muscles are generally more prone to injury, which is why you place yourself at higher risk for back pain if you do not exercise regularly. Lack of physical activity also causes your muscles and joints to become stiff, and muscle stiffness can also lead to back pain over time. Of course, that doesn’t mean you’ll have to engage in strenuous exercise in hopes of avoiding back pain. Moderate stretching, cardio, and strength training exercises should be enough for your purposes.

Another common cause of back pain is lifting heavy objects in the wrong way. No matter how light or heavy an object is, you need to pay close attention to how you are lifting it, so as not to cause any injury or damage to your back and other muscles. When picking up or lifting objects, the tendency is for you to bend from the waist and use the strength of your back muscles. This can result in muscle spasms that lead to back pain. The proper way to pick objects up and lift them is to bend from your knees and then use the strength of your legs. If you are carrying something that’s considerably heavy, you should also be careful to hold the object as close to your body as possible and to keep your back straight in order to avoid back pain.

Perhaps by knowing about these common causes of back pain, everyone will make that little habit change, and back pain can be avoided by most of us.