Most of us at some point I will experience low back pain. This is the most common medical conditions in the world. We depend so heavily on our back for our mobility. Small injuries can begin to have a much greater impact on this area of the body. People most affected are those between 30 and 50 years old. The aging process has some effect on diminishing be vitality of this critical area. If you remain vigilant, you can take actions to reduce the chance of injury and maintain be vitality of your lower back.
The lower back consist of the spinal column. It is generally referred to as the five discs just below the thoracic cage. This is often referred to as the lumbar. These bones are stacked one on top of the other creating a column.
There are five discs that compose the lumbar and form part of the spinal column which is supporting your body’s weight. The spinal column supports the weight of the body and also protects the spinal cord. The lumbar consist of five discs which are stacked on top of each other. They are separated by bands of soft tissue which allow the column to be flexible.
Certain conditions of low back pain are chronic and seriously painful. Fibromyalgia is such a disorder which is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain. It is known for aches, fatigue and many tender points. Skeletal irregularities such as scoliosis can produce strain on the vertebrae and its supporting soft tissues.
There are many acute conditions of lower back pain that can be prevented. Generally, situations having to do with your sitting position, posture and the lifting of objects need to be performed properly to avoid problems in the lower back.
You may work at a desk for long periods of time. When we sit for long periods of time are weight is placed in certain areas of the body. If our backs are not aligned properly, then this begins to fatigue the muscles and other soft tissues. This causes tension in the body which can result in stiffness or it. Make sure you utilize an ergonomic chair and understand how to make the adjustments to support your back and shoulders.
Many of us just have poor sitting habits. We may not properly support our backs by leaning too far forward or leaning too far back. We also do not want to sit for long periods of time. It is in order to get up and walk around after sitting for a while.
When you stand, make sure your shoulders are back and you are fully upright. If you slouch, then you put more weight on to the lower portion of the spine. If you maintain a proper posture, this will go a long way to avoiding stresses and strain on your back.
Probably the most problematic area is lifting objects. In addition to supporting your body weight, your spine must also support the object you are lifting. Most people lift with their backs and not their legs. The strongest muscles of your body are your legs; use them when you lift objects. It just makes sense.
It is important to lift objects properly by using your legs. It is like doing one big event. Put the object in front of you and bend at the knees until you can hold the object. Next straighten your legs back out while maintaining your back straight and in the upright position. This will put the weight of the object on your legs which are the largest muscles in your body.
Stretching is another important preventative method. There are normal stretches you can do line down and then there are stretches of the muscle tissues itself. Normal stretching and exercise is important to maintain the vitality of the spine. Massage therapy provides another way to stretch the muscles not normally accessed by a normal stretching routine.
By maintaining the proper health of your spine, you can avoid many potential lower back problems. Of course, as we age we will lose some strength and flexibility. Therefore, it is vital to have a routine of back healthy activities. This will help ensure that you maintain the flexibility and strength to avoid potential injuries and enjoy many more activities.
Tags: Lower Back Pain, Spinal Column, Tender Points, Other Soft Tissues
