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.
