By Terry, on July 29th, 2010
Lack of exercise – As we age, we often get sedentary. It could be a result of other age related issues like arthritis. Movement is difficult so we stop moving altogether. When you don’t exercise the muscles of the body begin to atrophy (weaken). In this state, sudden jarring movements can stretch those muscles leading to sprains and lots of pain after that. A prime example is doing too much exercise after living a sedentary life for years. You may get more than simply run-of-the-mill soreness out of the deal.
Solutions lie in getting active again. You don’t have to hit the weight bench just yet. Start with walking. Put your muscles on alert that it is time to buff up. A personal trainer can design a program for you that include weight lifting and cardiovascular work to improve endurance and build stronger muscles one fiber at a time.
Stress – As we touched on before, stress can kill – literally. It can lead to poor choices such as bad eating habits and lack of sleep. When the body doesn’t have time to repair itself at night while you snooze, the machine begins to break down. Small aches become big pains. The immune system falters and even normal everyday activities can lead to injuries leaving you with a backache.
Stress management is the key. Learning how to manage stress, through diet, exercise and instruction, gets stress under control. You are better able to handle problems at work and at home without destroying your body. Meditation is a useful tool in stress management that puts the mind back in control over the body.
Obesity – It has become an epidemic in the United States and other developing countries around the world. Even our kids have not been spared. Poor eating habits, stress and lack of exercise have led to more weight on the frame than the frame was designed to bear. Just walking around with extra pounds puts three times more pressure on the knees for each pound. For the back, which has to hold all of “you” up, it is even easier to slip a disc or injure the vertebra.
Lose weight. It is easier said than done, but if we do nothing, things won’t change. Success begins with small steps. Before your back begins to hurt chronically, start a walking program. Change the foods you eat so that your body becomes a fat burning powerhouse instead of a fat storage unit. Enlist the aid of family and friends to help you reach your goals.
By Terry, on July 28th, 2010
There are many causes of back pain. You may know them already but just didn’t know that you did. Let’s look at each one and a possible way to prevent it the next time.
Poor body mechanics – This has to do with posture. Standing on the ground, you may not realize that you are listing to the side or leaning forward. It is so natural to you now that you hardly notice it except when the pain gets to be too much. Poorly worn shoe soles, inadequate chairs, leaning and lumpy mattresses (you don’t have to keep it forever even if your mother-in-law gave it to you as a wedding present) all work to keep your spine out of proper alignment. For women, carrying around lots of breast tissue without proper support can do a number on your back as well.
The way to prevent this is to try ergonomics. It is all the rage in office buildings across the country. But, it can work for you in your home office or just sitting at home enjoying yourself. Chairs that adjust to the proper height for eating or using the computer raise your eye line so you don’t have to lean in and put extra pressure on your vertebrae. If you are short, use a foot stool to keep pressure off of your hip flexor muscles and lower back. As to the breast situation, find a bra that has maximum support for your size. A bra with a strong back support helps maintain posture so you don’t lean forward.
When it comes to standing, try a new pair of shoes. That could be the culprit of your back pain. When our posture is off, shoes begin to wear down in specific patterns. If you’ve ever worn someone else’s shoes you can tell if they walk on the inside or outside of their feet. Either can shift your weight and lead to backache.
Injury – Maybe you were in a car accident or took a bad fall when playing sports. Quick twisting movements can lead to bulging discs and other back problems. In an effort to protect itself, the muscles of the back tense up causing intense pain for you. If you’ve ever seen someone’s back give out, they instantly become a statue.
Seek medical attention. Back pain due to injury requires a diagnosis of the underlying problem. If you have a herniated disc, pinched a nerve or injured vertebrae, this may mean surgical intervention to fix the problem. Even if you feel fine at first, it doesn’t hurt to get checked out. You may need that proof later for insurance purposes at the least.
By Terry, on July 21st, 2010
Do you suffer from back pain? Learn how that pain is caused and what you can do to alleviate it. . . . → Read More: Back Pain Explained
By Terry, on July 19th, 2010
Do you suffer from back pain? Discover what causes you to experience the pain and what you can do to relieve it. . . . → Read More: Back Pain: An Introduction (2)
By Terry, on July 15th, 2010
Do you suffer from back pain? Discover what might be the reason and what you can do about it. . . . → Read More: Back Pain: An Introduction (1)
