Back pain is a pain that most people are going to experience at some point in their lives. From a mild ache after sitting at the computer too long to a more intense and chronic pain can reduce mobility and quality of life. Why? There are so many intricate networks of body components delicately intertwined, just waiting for you to pick something up the wrong way, or to fall awkwardly, or even just to sleep in a funny position.
Backs are super easy to injure and can be very hard to fix – although there are plenty of ways to ease back pain. Below, you will find some of the best as well as common causes of back pain.
The Most Common Causes
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the L1-L5 — which stands for lower vertebrae, basically meaning lower back — is the most common area for back pain. Why? The lower back is a delicate structure, and often a mechanical mechanism failure results in lower back pain. Conditions like scoliosis, spina bifida, and traumatic injury are causes of chronic back pain. Acute lower back pain typically comes from an injury.
Here are some of the other most common causes of back pain:
- Pulled muscles
- Arthritis
- Inflammation
- Nerve damage
- Stress
- Ruptured spinal discs
The Most Effective Relief
Chronic back pain deserves effective relief, yet it’s difficult to treat chronic back pain because our backs are in constant use. Below, we will explore two effective methods for back pain relief.
Chiropractor
Before you visit a chiropractor, you should take a trip to the doctor’s office to check for underlying medical concerns that could trigger the pain you’re feeling. Then you need to find a chiropractor that specializes in back pain – for example, make a search in Google using the search term ‘chiropractor Libertyville’ and you’ll get a page of examples of chiropractors in that area. After an initial consultation, your chiropractor will assess the structures in your back to check for structural abnormalities and decide if there needs to be a manipulation.
They train most chiropractors in massage and incorporate deep tissue massage for back pain relief when appropriate. The combination of manipulation and stimulation through massage, or just the manipulation, can often provide near-instant relief. Many studies have confirmed this, and millions of people benefit from chiropractic treatment each year.
Yoga
One of the most common causes of back pain, particularly upper back pain, is posture. Posture is a big problem for office workers or anyone spending long periods on a computer. Office workers who don’t stretch or exercise have rigid muscles in their backs that are more prone to damage.
Yoga is a holistic practice that revitalizes the mind, body, and soul through controlled movements and breathing. Not only do your muscles relax, but so does your mind. As you follow the breathing techniques and movement patterns, you’re stimulating your parasympathetic nervous system, which puts your body into a state of rest and repair. Stiff muscles relax, the mind relaxes, and pain slowly eases.
When combined with physiotherapy or chiropractic treatments, yoga is effective at relieving back pain caused by tight muscles and posture issues.
Back pain is one of the most common pain complaints because there are a myriad of ways to damage your back. Luckily, there are just as many ways to relieve back pain. As a preventative measure, start incorporating a 10-minute stretching routine or some exercises for back pain into your day to keep your back supple.