Sunday, July 12, 2009

Main Causes For Lower Back Misery

By Jim N Knowlon

One of this country's leading medical problems is back pain. It is cited as one of the five most common injuries occurring in the workplace. Some of these, of course come from accidents. However, many are simply preventable. In fact, the vast majority tend to come from stress and strain on your back. It only takes a second to lift something that pulls a muscle in your back. We take a look at some of the more common causes of low back pain.

The lower back is often referred to as the lumbar. The lumbar consist of five cervical discs. This part of the back tends to take the stress and strain that is put on the body by the forces of gravity. These five discs are connected with soft tissues consisting of tendons, ligaments and muscles.

We are more susceptible to problems in the lower back as we age. This is compounded by the changes in our work habits. Many of our work hours are spent sitting in fixed positions. This is especially true for those who work on computers.

The lower back relies on its strength in its ability to be flexible. The elasticity of the ligaments, tendons and muscles between the discs is critical. The other critical element is strength. The majority of the weight must be absorbed and distributed by the lower back. It must be even stronger when you add weight by caring different items.

Some of the more common causes of lower back pain are muscle strain, injury and overuse. Lower back pain is interesting because small strain causes the other muscles and disc to take up the slack. If something is injured, the other areas of the body must make up for this reduced capability.

Stress and tension can build up in the body from sitting in a given position for long periods. Another way this can happen is through improper posture. These cause tension to the spine because it is not being used in its most optimal position.

Most of us don't realize the importance of our lower back. It gives us our mobility. Small impacts to the lower back can affect this mobility as well. The lower back and spine must provide two major functions. One is to absorb shocks and impacts. The second is to transmit the weight between the upper and lower body.

Many people sustain a small injury to their lower back generally; they just hope that it passes. However, many of these situations cause the spine to become out of ballots. The person will actually begin to change their posture and adjust to the effect of the injury. It is important to see these changes occurring and to take proper corrective action before injury occurs.

There are two main categories of lower back pain. The first is chronic and the second is acute. In the case of chronic back pain, it is much more serious than acute. Chronic back pain may come from serious conditions such as degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease or spinal disc herniation. These conditions may require surgery and physical therapy.

The vast majority of low back problems are acute back pain. This comes from injury to the soft tissues. These can happen suddenly or they may happen slowly over time. If you list too much weight, this would be a sudden case. Improper posture can lead to one that occurs slowly and time.

There are also certain conditions which can also lead to low back pain. These can range from osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis or a herniated disc can also cause low back pain. It is always important to check with your physician to obtain an accurate diagnosis. They can help advise on to the nature of your situation. They may also recommend natural treatments such as chiropractic manipulation, stretching and massage chair therapy.

Make sure you take care of your lower back. The keys to your mobility are its strength and flexibility. Making sure that you adequately stretch and strengthen the lower back will help you maintain your mobility much longer. As always, diet, exercise and massage provide for a proper balance to maintain the vitality of your lower back.

About the Author: