One of the most common health complaints is back pain, affecting many aspects of a person’s life. It can strike at any age and occur suddenly or creep up slowly. It ranges from mild to severe, even becoming debilitating in some cases.
The back is comprised of an intricate system of bones, ligaments, muscles, tendons and nerves that work together to support your body and allow you to move comfortably and effectively. Cushion-like discs are located along the spine to soften the spine to avoid pain. Problems with one or more of these components of the back can lead to a variety of issues. What are the most common reasons for back pain? Are there ways to avoid becoming a victim of this ailment?
Trauma
One of the most common causes of back pain results from an accident or injury. These often are from a car accident, athletic mishap, or fall. Typical outcomes to your back from trauma might include broken bones, ruptured discs, torn ligaments or tendons, or strained muscles.
Overexertion
Overdoing it with your body can damage your back from a one-time movement or from repetition over time. Actions like improperly lifting heavy objects or bending over repeatedly can injure your ligaments, muscles or tendons. Pain may occur immediately or build up over time.
Ruptured discs
The cushioning discs located between each vertebra in your spine can become misshapen or completely rupture. This places too much pressure on your nerves in your back, often leading to severe pain and impacted movement.
Medical conditions
A number of medical conditions are linked to back pain, such as some types of cancer, kidney disorders, arthritis, sciatica, osteoporosis and more. Sometimes back pain is difficult to avoid with other medical issues, so managing pain may be the only option instead of completely curing it.
Poor posture
Not standing or sitting up straight may seem like a silly cause for back pain, but it can cause discomfort and even promote long term damage to your back.
Avoiding back pain
Experienced physicians like Dr. Fishcer in New York City recommend a number of things that may help you maintain a healthy back and avoid pain. Some of these tips include:
- Strengthen your core muscles – performing exercises that strengthen your core muscles, which are located in your abdominal area and lower back, can be extremely helpful to prevent back pain. Having strong core muscles reduces the stress placed on your tendons and ligaments in your back, as well as lowering your risk for back injury.
- Practice good posture – standing, sitting and moving properly all reduces the amount of strain placed on your spine and back. This helps to align your joints in an ideal way that lowers your risk for damage or injury to the components of your back.
- Diagnose medical issues – see your primary physician or a specialist like Dr. Fishcer in NYC if you have unexplained back pain. Diagnostic tests may identify medical issues that contribute to your back discomfort and you can obtain treatment for both the condition and corresponding back pain.
- Sleep properly – it can be helpful to sleep on your back to allow your spine to stretch out and decompress. Avoid sleeping on your stomach.
- Wear good shoes – wearing good quality shoes recommended by a professional that fit properly and support your body can help avoid back pain, especially if you stand a lot. A stable base that evenly distributes your weight is advised.
- Consider massage – relax your muscles and promote healing blood flow by getting regular massages. This may also improve your flexibility and soothe sore muscles.
- Consider alternative therapies – alternative therapies like chiropractic treatment sometimes helps patients reduce back pain by correcting body alignment and identifying posture or other issues.
If you experience constant discomfort, contact Dr. Fishcer today to schedule an appointment.