Back Pain Relief At Every Age

By Irene Diamond

Regardless of your age now, if you haven't already experienced back pain ~ YOU WILL!
Studies show (and my therapy practice confirms) that at some point almost every person will experience back pain at least once, and for some people, they will have repeated bouts of back pain, some serious enough to keep them off work and possibly even prevent them from getting out of bed!

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons estimates that over the course of an average lifetime, 80% of individuals in the United States will suffer from at least one episode of back pain. It is estimated that every year 15% to 20% of Americans report back pain, and 50% of individuals who suffer an episode of lower back pain will have a recurring episode within 1 year.

If you have ever had back pain, you may be familiar with the various types of pain you can experience which can range from a constant dull or nagging pain to a sharp, severe pain. Your pain may prevent you from moving, walking or standing straight. If your back pain comes on quickly, it may only last for a few days or weeks, but many people also suffer from a chronic back pain, which is always constant and affects the quality of their life.

Studies have also shown the majority of acute back pain is the result of muscle strains or sprains due to weakness and muscular imbalances. The pain may be apparent immediately after an injury or worsen gradually over a few hours.

If you are not in proper physical condition, you could seriously hurt your back just by carrying out your daily activities.

Even seemingly simple things such as house-hold chores, grocery shopping, work activities, sports or playing with your children, can be too much for a "weak" back.

There are other factors that may increase your risk of developing back pain: your age, sedentary lifestyle, excess weight, poor posture, improper technique when lifting heavy objects, poor sleeping posture, as well as stress and muscle tension, accident or sports-related injury, or physically strenuous work. Some medical conditions such as osteoarthritis, endometriosis, kidney stones, and fibromyalgia may also contribute to back pain.

So what should you do about your "bad back"? Don't worry, it is really not that hard to set yourself up for the success of pain-free living!

The first step is to be familiar with a concept I termed "Positional Awareness" that comes from a therapy technique called Active Myofascial Therapy™. Positional Awareness is when you pay attention (aware) to how your body is positioned, and if it might be mis-aligned. There are two variations of Positional Awareness. #1. Where your body is in space in relation to the floor or gravitational pull and #2. Where one part of your body is, in relation to the rest of your body.

An example of #1 is if you have a sore ankle that causes you to lean to one side and limp, your body shifts off center and therefore is not upright, but rather at somewhat of an angle to the floor. Often people are not even aware they are leaning more in one direction. An example of #2 is when you have your head forward of your torso or your shoulders are hunched up around your ears when you work on the computer. In this example, your head and/or shoulders are out of alignment from the rest of your body.

Once you have gained Positional Awareness, you can make the subtle needed changes to your posture that will take a huge strain off your back, allowing the muscles to relax more since they will not have to work so hard to support your body.

Most people think of an effective exercise program as one that will develop cardiovascular and muscular strength. These are important, but even more important in most people is including exercises to improve flexibility and joint stability. The goal of your exercise program should be to help you function at your optimal ability with a strong, fluid, stable body that is able to do any activity you want, pain free!

In addition to exercise, of course, you must take preventive measures to decrease the occurrence and severity of lower back pain, such as always using proper lifting techniques, and practice proper posture when sitting, standing, sleeping and moving.

In addition to staying strong, flexible and in proper-alignment, you may also find pain relief through these methods: apply heat for muscle spasms and tightness and ice or cold packs if you have any inflammation or swelling; massage therapy; and topical creams to 'distract' your nervous system. The ingredients in these creams work on a principle called 'counter-irritant' so your nervous system feels the 'tingle' of the cream and not the sensations of pain.

To learn more easy tips on getting rid of your own back pain, contact me and request a free 8 page Special Report, "How To Get Rid of Your Back Pain ~ Once and for All!"

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