Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Some Ways for the Prevention of Lower Back Pain

By Jim O Knowlon

Back problems are one of the top medical problems in the United States. Many of these are occupational related but also many come from sports in the home. Is estimated that over $45 billion a year is spent on back related problems. Nearly everyone has low back pain at some point. It seems to most often occur to those between 30 and 50. This is most often associated with the aging process. However, many types of back pain are also preventable as well.

The lower back is often referred to as the lumbar. These are the five lumbar vertebrae located just below the thoracic cage. Each of these vertebrae is separated by the soft tissues of ligaments, tendons and muscles. The spinal cord runs through the middle of these small discs.

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 also acute conditions which are characterized by short term pain in the lower back. Certain ones of these conditions are preventable. Many preventable situations are how we lift objects, are sitting position and our posture. We have control over these items and must be careful not to injure our backs.

One of the first areas to look at is you are sitting position. You want to be able to sit up bright and if you work at a desk, have your arms supported. Many ergonomic chairs have the ability to adjust to best support the back. This will help minimize the stress and strain put on your lower back.

Many of us have bad habits when it comes to sitting. We may lay back to much or lean forward too much. Think of how your spine must support your body's weight in different positions. Finding the optimal position to relieve stress on the back is important to avoid problems.

When you stand, do you slouch? Many of us slouched by putting our shoulders forward and kind of functioning over. Instead we should put our shoulders back and our head up. Not only will this help our confidence it will tremendously help our backs.

Many people simply do not lift objects properly. Most of us just bend over and pick things up using our backs. This not only puts the weight of our body on the lumbar but also the weight of the object. This can lead to straining these important muscles.

The proper way to lift an object is to use your legs. Lower your body by bending your knees. Next, and straighten your legs until you are standing upright. Keep your back straight so the weight of the object is put on your legs.

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.

Just keep in mind that lack of muscle strength and flexibility in the vertebrae can cause low back pain. By performing exercises, stretching and obtaining massage therapy, you can keep the muscles supple and strong. The keys to long-term back health are strength and flexibility. Make sure you get a routine to ensure your long-term mobility.

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