A Bit About Back Pain

Back pain is the second most common pain. It affects approximately 80% of the world’s population at some time in their lives and is the main cause of absenteeism at work.

How you use your back at work and at home can determine whether you will have to live with back pain. Experts now recognise that increasingly sedentary lives contribute greatly to the back pain epidemic now experienced in the western world. An office worker can spend anything from 25-40 hours a week in a static position at a computer. Travelling to and from work frequently involves long journeys, whether sitting or standing. Weight gain, anxiety and stress levels are on the increase, all of which can exaggerate pain. Once home in the evening, dinner by the television is often easier than exercising or going out.

The back is designed for movement – it is important to keep it moving and to support it when not. The back, like the rest of the body, must be kept active to stay healthy – it thrives on USE! Regular physical activity develops muscle, stronger bones, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness, which in turn releases endorphins and makes you feel great in the process.

The importance of spine function

To understand back pain and its related problems it is important to have some knowledge of how the spine functions in the body. The spinal column is one of the strongest parts of the skeleton. It is made up of solid bony blocks separated by intervertebral discs which absorb shock and add strength and flexibility. It acts as a supporting frame, reinforced by strong ligaments and surrounding muscle. The spinal column protects and encloses the spinal cord and allows movement of the trunk, head and pelvis.

The back is not straight but in an ‘s’ shape, with a curve in the base of the neck and small of the back. This shape should be kept in mind as it is important to keep the correct curve in the spine whatever you are doing. The correct posture encourages the muscles, joints and ligaments to work as nature intended. The vital organs are then in the right position and can function at peak efficiency. Correct posture can also contribute to normal functioning of the nervous system - without good posture your overall health and efficiency may be compromised. The long term effects of poor posture can negatively influence the digestive and respiratory systems and contribute to muscle damage.

Children are at risk

Children in particular are at risk. Most babies are born with healthy backs and good posture. However, today’s child often spends hours hunched at a desk or computer. A recent survey indicated that 80% of children carry too much weight in incorrectly designed schoolbags, mostly on one shoulder. Many children carry up to one third of their body weight in school bags. Posture is just as important as diet, exercise and sleep. It is often overlooked by fitness and medical advisors yet many adults with chronic back pain can trace their problems to bad postural habits and lifestyle.

Back pain can cause a great deal of misery but fortunately serious or permanent damage is rare. Most back pain comes from the working parts of the back - the muscles, ligaments and small joints. Accurate diagnosis and safe management is essential, whether it be acute or chronic back pain.

Back pain management programmes

The most effective back pain management programmes are multidisciplinary, with emphasis on activity, lifestyle, education and prevention. Avoiding aggravating factors, good posture and an appropriate diet are important, while a tailored exercise programme, rehabilitation, massage and therapy are also key.