Lack of conditioning and exercise

Back pain is one of the leading reasons people seek medical attention. 75% of adults will have back pain in their lifetime. Back pain can range from a simple annoying pain to excruciating and disabling pain. Back pain is the number one reason for job related disability in this country which leads to missed time from work and lost wages. Thankfully there are measures to prevent back pain and there are specialists to see if prevention fails. Surgery is rarely needed to treat back pain. Chiropractic medicine is dedicated to the non-surgical treatment of back pain. These healthcare professionals focus on spinal manipulation and treatment of surrounding structures. The goal in treating back pain should focus on education, treatment, and prevention of chronic back pain.
The three major causes of back pain are: lack of conditioning and exercise, poor body mechanics, and repetition and overuse. Back pain is more common among people who are not physically fit. By having weak back and abdominal muscles a human body cannot properly support the spine. There is an increase in back pain for those who do not regularly exercise. This is directly related to the fact that muscles do not develop and there is an increased chance of being overweight. Also, arthritic joints can stiffen due to lack of exercise and inactivity. Poor body mechanics is another major cause of back pain. Body mechanics is the way that people sit, stand, walk, reach, lift, carry, and sleep. The key to good body mechanics is to gain awareness of how we use our bodies on a daily basis. The first tool is paying attention to good posture. Good posture involves keeping the spine in a neutral position, not too arched and not too rounded. We should also take caution to avoid bending and twisting at the same time. It is best to bend at the knees to pick up an object. It is then important to hold that object close to our bodies when carrying the object to prevent injuries to the back. When sitting, it is still important to maintain good posture and whenever possible get up from a sitting position to move around and stretch. Good body mechanics while sleeping is also very important. A firm mattress and a pillow which keeps the head aligned with the rest of the body is most beneficial for maintaining good body mechanics while sleeping. Sleeping on your back or on your side with a pillow between your legs are the preferred ways to keep the back in a neutral position. Lastly, repetition and overuse can and is likely to lead to back pain. Overuse injuries are common in athletes who play sports and perform repetitive movements. The stress and trauma to soft tissues causes irritation and if not allowed to heal completely can lead to back pain. In addition, stressing the same muscle groups repeatedly by performing the same movements can put a tremendous amount of strain on muscles and the surrounding tendons causing irritation and inflammation and thus back pain. Rest and creating variety in exercise and movements can help evade the onset of back pain.