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OF BACK PAIN
Don’t allow back pain to rule your life.
BACK PAIN
FACTS:
80% of people will suffer from serious back pain in their lives, mostly LOWER back pain.
Back pain is the second most common medical complaint, after the common cold.
Back injuries cause an estimated 180 million lost days of work annually.
Over 400,000 people in the UK receive Social Security payments for back injury.
In the UK, 1.1 million people are disabled by back pain.
The direct health care costs of back pain sufferers in the UK (1988) was over £ 1,500 million.
Bending and lifting is the number one cause of serious back problems.
Depression is often a major problem for people with chronic back pain.
If you've ever suffered from chronic back pain or been off work for a week or two with acute back
pain, you are in the company of around 5 million other sufferers in the UK
annually who are forced to consult their GP about back pain or a related condition
What kind of conditions can cause back pain ?
Height/Weight ratio: If you are above the recommended weight for your height, losing weight can have
a significant impact on reducing the strain you place on your back muscles. Back pain most commonly
affects the lower, lumbar region of the spine. This is normally due to excessive strain on the muscles,
ligaments and small joints of the skeleton. Quite often overweight people are also unfit, and have poor
muscle tone, which puts them at increased risk, over and above having to support a heavier load.
Remember: Putting on Weight is a Pain in the Back.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: This is an inflammatory disease which causes the synovial membrane linings in
the joints to become thickened, inflamed and to produce excess synovial fluid leading to redness,
stiffness, swelling and pain. Areas of inflammation cause bone to become worn and distorted. When
trying to deal with pain in other areas, sufferers often lose site of how distorted they have become, and
twisting awkwardly to avoid injury transfers the strain to the back, usually the lower back, with obvious
consequences.
Sciatica: Sciatica causes, sometimes mild, but more often severe pain in the buttock, and down the back
of one leg. This is the result of the sciatic nerve being compressed or damaged, usually at the vertebral
level, by a prolapsed (slipped) inter-vertebral disc, which presses on the root of the sciatic nerve where it
joins the spinal cord. There are two sciatic nerves, left and right, but usually sciatica only affects one leg
at a time. Sometimes, in serious cases, it can affect both legs.
2. If the bulging disc or disk herniation is large enough, the spinal nerves too will be irritated, which
causes pain running down to the buttocks, thigh, leg or foot. This is called “sciatica.” How far down the
leg the pain travels depends on which nerves are involved.
Back to Basics: Back Tips to Prevent Back Strain.
Lifting Techniques: Examples of lifting include: Shopping, dustbin, washing basket, making the bed,
children, vacuuming the stairs.
Never lift anything you don't have to.
Never lift a box or container without first finding out what's inside it.
Don't rely on the picture on the box.
Check the size of the container and ascertain it's likely weight.
Know where you are going with the load and check your path will be clear.
Never be afraid to ask for help.
Use a trolley, wheelbarrow or other mechanical device to transport loads whenever possible.
Stand square to the load and as close as is comfortable. Don't over reach and pull it toward you.
Stand stable with your feet apart and solidly on the floor.
Bend your knees to reach the load.
Never bend forward at the waist (you'll take all the extra weight on your lumbar area).
Lift the load using the power of your legs.
Never twist your body to the side when lifting, or lowering.
Once you have the load, face the direction of your movement. Do not twist at the hips.
Carrying Techniques: Examples of carrying include: Groceries, furniture, hot saucepans, laundry,
luggage, children.
Wear sensible footwear to prevent slipping or tripping.
Maintain a firm hold on the object.
Keep the load close to your body.
Don't twist.
Look ahead to ensure your way is clear.
Bend your knees when picking up and putting down again.
Suitcases or bags that can't be divided should be switched from side to side. Not by swinging the
load around to the other hand, but by putting down and picking up again.
Stop frequently to rest and take note of what's going on with your back.
Use a shopping trolley whenever possible.
Carrying/Moving Heavy Objects: Examples of moving heavy objects include: Moving furniture
(including sliding), changing a car tyre, mowing the lawn.
Don't move what you don't have too, get help whenever possible.
Use a trolley, wheelbarrow or other mechanical device if possible.
Stand squarely to the object.
Maintain a firm hold on the object.
Bend your knees to give you power. Use your legs to push or pull.
Never jerk a load to get it moving. Use firm steady pressure.
Sitting: Examples of sitting include: Reading a book, eating a meal, computing, driving, watching TV.
Sit comfortably in the chair, so that you feel fully supported.
Adjust the chair for your position or comfort.
Distribute your weight evenly.
Don't sit twisted or leaning to one side or the other.
Feet should touch the floor. Use a cushion or platform if not.
Avoid sitting with a wallet in your back pocket. It can force the sacrum out of alignment or
encourage you to sit at an angle to relieve the pressure.
Don't allow yourself to become locked in the sitting position. Get up and move around often.
Ironically, forty percent more weight is placed on the spine when you are sitting as opposed to standing.
So sitting for prolonged periods is not the best thing to do for your back.
Standing for long periods: Examples of standing include: Waiting in a queue, showering, waiting for a
bus, washing dishes, ironing.
Change position frequently. Shifting your weight from one leg to the other.
Relieve the pressure on one leg at a time by resting it on a step, stool, or position one foot 'ballet'
style, to keep your balance.
Stand on a rubber mat or carpet.
Wear sensible footwear, avoiding high heels.
Pay attention to your posture.
Try not to strain arch your back, especially when looking up. Fatigue will quickly set in.
Kneeling or Bending: Examples of kneeling and bending include: Gardening, washing floor, finding
lost items, dressing, playing with children.
Bend your hips and knees, NOT your back.
Pay attention to your back if bending or kneeling. Check for signs of pulling, pain and
squelching, or unexplained clicks.
Over weight people can strain their back when kneeling because the spine is forced to sag.
Consider using a reach grab (like the park keepers litter tool) for picking things up.
Consider using a long handle trowel, fork or rake, rather than bending.
Scrape or sweep multiple items into a pile, then, if light enough, pick them all up at once.
Use both your knees and one hand and establish a 'tripod' to support yourself when working.
Reaching: Examples of reaching include: Hanging out the washing, changing a light bulb, washing
windows, making the bed, fetching from the top shelf of a cupboard, painting, lopping trees.
Make sure you are on a firm floor.
Do not over-reach.
Use steps, ladder or scaffolding to allow you to work at a height that avoids reaching too far.
Position yourself so that you are close to your work.
Use long handles tools to avoid straining, such as for paint rollers or when dusting.
Keep both feet firmly on the ground or step of your ladder. Don't over-reach so that you have to
balance on one foot.
Use Easy Reach Tools: Many hardware shops now sell long handled tools. Examples of their use
includes: Sweeping with a brush, raking the lawn, digging, lopping, window washing, mopping.
Choose good quality, light-weight tools.
Make sure you are standing squarely to the work, feet apart and in a stable posture.
Hold the handle close to your body, so that you aren't unbalanced by leverage.
Never over-reach, twist or use your trunk or back to apply pressure to a tool. Unbalanced
twisting is a major cause of back injury.
Some tools are dual purpose and have long handles that screw into shorter tools such as paint
rollers, dusting mops or long handled dustpan and brush.
Use your legs to give you power, not your back.
Driving: Examples of driving aids that are available include: Lumbar rolls,
cushions, wedges, heated seating.
Always wear your seatbelt.
Use any of the above accessories to make your driving position
easier and more comfortable.
Make sure you are able to adjust the seat in any position, vertically
or horizontally, for comfort, and correct placement.
Make sure your lower back is supported squarely in the seat. Badly
designed or broken car seats are a major cause of postural distortion
in a car, mainly because you can't adjust the wheel or pedals to
accommodate the new seat position. What does alter, is YOU!
Avoid sitting with a wallet in your back pocket. It can force the
sacrum out of alignment or encourage you to sit at an angle to relieve
the pressure.
On long journeys, stop regularly to move and stretch as often as you
can.
If you have back problems or get regular attacks, give some thought
to an automatic car.
Use your mirrors (interior and exterior) to full advantage, to avoid
twisting.
Use the local car wash. Swishing a soapy mop around, and up, and
under, is no job for a matchstick back. (You can probably tell, I'm
talking from experience now!)
The "ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" philosophy holds when it comes
to low back pain.
By using proper lifting techniques, maintaining the appropriate body weight and
tone, keeping the back and body muscles strong, and keeping good posture, many
back injuries and episodes of low back pain could be avoided.
The cost to employers each year, due to low back pain problems alone, is in the
order of several billion dollars.
These curves allow for the center of gravity to be placed over ones feet.
Disruption of one of these curves places an undue strain upon the other
curves.
Disruption of the curves can come from chronic poor posture, or from
lifting incorrectly.
To reduce the strain or "torque" on the spine, hold the object as close to
the body as possible.
Bending at the waist, keeping the legs straight at the knees, places a
large amount of strain on the spine, and in particular the low back.
Don't do this!!
Before taking on any new exercise regimen, please, make sure you are using proper form.
Improper form, for stretching, strength training, and cardiovascular activities, could mean
tearing and injuring tendons, ligaments, and muscles. And the goal of exercise is to
strengthen you, not injure you.
Sit straight up, not hunched over. A lumbar support may help
with this.
When driving, sit straight up, not slumped. Keep the seat far
enough forward, so that your knees are slightly bent.
INCORRECT FORM
CORRECT FORM
What can you do for back pain relief?
This article is going to assume that you are already under the care of a doctor and you
are trying to solve your problem with some sort of medical – chiro-practic - physical
therapy treatment. (For obvious reasons, you should never start exercising without
prior consent of your therapist)
Although you may be in the middle of a back pain relief program, you may still be experiencing pain. So
what to do while you’re waiting for this treatment to “kick in” and make you feel better?
While lying flat on your back with your knees bent, grab
one knee with both hands and gently pull it back towards
your chest.
Start out slow; don't force your leg back; simply apply a
gentle pulling motion.
4. Spinal Bending
Flexing the lower spine (bending forward) increases the size of the
passageways between the vertebrae and allows the irritation or
impingement to resolve.
This is why people with back pain often feel better when bending
forward (such as leaning on a cane, walker or shopping cart) than
standing up straight.
Back stretches
Back stretches target the abdomen and lower back muscles.
Place hands with fingers in the small of back.
Bend backward as far as tolerated, pressing inward with fingers.
Hold for 1-2 seconds.
Repeat 10 times,
5. Bridge
Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat
on floor. Push down with your feet while lifting the
buttocks off the floor. Hold the pose while tightening
your buttocks for a few seconds then lower.
6. Donkey kick
8. Cat Pose
Start on all fours, knees under hips, hands
under shoulders.
Repeat 10 times.
9. Cobra
Lie facedown with elbows bent and close to
body, palms down. Inhale, simultaneously
lifting chest and left leg until left foot is about
12 inches off floor (as shown).
This causes the disc to compress and decompress over and over
to help with water exchange (imbibition).
Perform this exercise for 5-10 minutes as part of your regular
daily exercises for lower back pain.
There are many more ways in which you can use the
Therapy Ball to strengthen your back and abdomen
Lie with the ball resting under the mid/lower back and place
hands behind the head or across the chest.
Contract your abs to lift your the torso off the ball, pulling the
bottom of your ribcage down toward your hips.
Superman
Lower back down and repeat with the left arm and right leg.
Take your time--this exercise will challenge your balance!
Ball Pushup
Back Extension
Lie face down with ball under your hips and lower
torso.
Place your hands behind your head or at your sides
and stay on your knees or toes.
Slowly roll down the ball and then roll back up, lifting
your chest off the ball.
Bring your shoulders up until your body is in a straight
line without hyper-extending.
Wall Squat
Stand with feet wide, toes out at about a 45-degree angle and
place an exercise ball behind your lower back for support.
If you choose to hold weights, you can keep them at your sides
or prop them on the hips.
Bend the knees and lower into a squat, keeping the knees in
line with the toes.
Lower down as far as your flexibility allows and push into the
heels to go back to starting position.
Hip Extension
Keeping your abs tight roll out as far as you can and repeat.
Ball Circles
Sit on the ball and place your hands on the ball for
balance or place them behind your head (more difficult).
Sit on the ball with the spine straight and abs in.
Place the hands on the ball or behind the head (harder) and lift
the right foot off the floor, holding it in the air for 5 or more
seconds.
Lower and repeat on the other side. Keep the abs in to help keep
your balance
Ball walks
Walk all the way back until you're seated again and repeat.
If this feels difficult, hold onto a wall for balance and only walk forward a bit at a time until you
feel more comfortable.
IMPORTANT
All the information in this bundle has been found on the internet.
I am not a doctor, nor a chiropractor, nor in any way specialized in treatment of back pain or any other
medical disorder. I don’t know anything about the human body, (sports) training or massage. I never
received any medical education.
So please, consult your GP, chiropractor or Spine Specialist before executing any of the exercises listed
in this handout.