How to get rid of back pain
Back Pain The main reason we suffer from back problems is that
we are increasingly becoming sedentary creatures. The upright
posture is designed for walking. Today, a high proportion of
people spend the better part of their working day sitting at
desks, at workstations, or in cars and trucks. These changes in
human behavior have had a profound-and largely negative- impact
on human physiology. The factors that contribute to back pain
include: Poor posture Improper footwear and walking habits
Improper lifting, lifting heavy objects Straining individual
muscles Calcium deficiency Slouching when sitting Prolonged
sitting, especially in a chair that does not adequately support
the back Sleeping on a mattress that is too soft Kidney,
bladder, and prostate problems Stress Pregnancy Female pelvic
disorders Constipation may produce back pain Arthritis
Rheumatism Bone disease Abnormal curvature of the spine
You are most at risk for back pain if: * Your job requires
frequent bending and lifting * You must twist your body when
lifting and carrying an object you must lift and carry in a
hurry * You are overweight * You do not exercise regularly or do
not engage in recreational activities * You smoke Healing
through back pain exercise Generally, a patient's back pain
exercise program should encompass a combination of stretching
exercises (such as hamstring stretching), strengthening
exercises (such as dynamic lumbar stabilization exercise.
Depending the patient's specific diagnosis and level of pain,
the back pain exercise and rehabilitation program will be very
different, so it is important for patients to see a trainer who
is trained to develop an individualized exercise program provide
instruction on using the correct form, technique, good posture &
right breathing techniques. The Cobra or Bhujangasana- Lie down
prone (on your abdomen). Keep hands under the shoulders & lift
up. Make sure that both the heels touch each other. Look up. The
naval should still be touching the floor in this position.
Consult your doctor if you have undergone abdominal surgery or
are suffering from hernia or have spinal injury. Sahaj
Pavanmuktasana- Lying supine (on your back), clasp one knee and
bring your chin to your knee. Hold this posture for 10-30
seconds. If you have cervical spondylitis, do not raise the
chin. This helps to stretch hamstrings and thus prevent lower
back pain. Poorna Pavanmuktasana - Lie on your back with your
knees bent and feet flat on floor. Raise your knees toward your
chest. Place both hands under your knees and gently pull your
knees close to your chest till you feel a gentle stretch in your
lower back. Try to bring your chin closer to your knees. Start
with five repetitions, several times a day. Chakrasana or The
Bridge- Lying Supine, place your palms under your shoulders with
fingers turned towards the feet. Bend your knees. Now raise your
hips, arch your back, push the head & upper body as far as you
can. This helps to get rid of stiff hip joints Spinal twist-
This is very interesting. Lying supine, bend your knees. Grab
both the ankles & place feet on the floor. Now roll both the
knees to one side & outstretch the hands by your sides. This
controls the sciatica and stretches upper & mid back.
Dhanurasana - Lying prone, fold your knees & grab both ankles.
Lift up & arch your back. This helps to strengthen the back but
consult your doctor if you have severe lumbar or cervical pain.
Gomukhasana - Place one hand behind your shoulders & reaching
behind your back with the other hand interlock the fingers of
both hands. Interchange the arms & repeat. This is excellent in
the cases of cervical as it opens the shoulder blades. But those
with frozen shoulders should not do this. World over Swiss balls
are being used both by trainers & chiropractors. These help in
releasing the tensions & giving normal curvature to the spine.
These are very safe to be used but should be used under the
guidance of a trainer. Lying prone on the ball, dig your feet
firmly in the floor. Slowly raise your upper body. Exhale as you
lift up & inhale as you lift down. This helps dramatically in
strengthening the back muscles. There are therapeutic balls that
help in self-massage. These are the being used world over not
just for such cervical stretch & massage but also for lower
back, shoulders, hamstrings etc. Their effects are felt right
after taking first sessions. Active forms of back pain exercise
(physical therapy) are typically necessary to rehabilitate the
spine and help alleviate back pain. Movement distributes
nutrients into the disc space and soft tissues in the spine to
keep the discs, muscles, ligaments and joints healthy. And the
converse is true too--lack of exercise can worsen back pain by
leading to stiffness, weakness, and de-conditioning.