Experienced backache?

Having backache is a common occurrence and most often you get pain in your lower back. A common cause for this is a poor working environment. You may be sitting still for too long or stress often, which causes your muscles to get tense and then hurt. 

However, there are different types of backache:

Pain in the lower back 

• The pain usually is light in the beginning and then gradually increases
• The pain can radiate down to the foot.
• Often linked to overloading the lower back

Naprapath Filip Allerkrans explains how pain in the lower back is affecting about 80% of the population, which makes this problem one of the most common disorders of the musculoskeletal system. He also points out that the occurrence and cause may be different, depending on the debut of pain. Often due to mechanical trauma, for example when slipping. Or it may be due to overload –  from changing tires on the car for example.

Lumbago

• The pain is sudden and you feel cramps in the back muscles
• The pain worsens when you turn your back
• This is usually due to overload for a long period of time

Pain in the thoracic spine

• Pain between the shoulder blades
• Tensions in the muscles
• The pain varies depending on the posture

Why do you get backache?

A common cause of the backache is as mentioned earlier, a poor working environment. For office workers, it is usually about being seated in front of a desk all day, and not changing posture often enough. With other professions, it can be about lifting heavy things – often and incorrectly.

To avoid damage due to heavy lifting, you should:

• Keep what you carry close to the body
• Bend your knees instead of your back
• Do not turn your back sideways

For the ones working in an office, there are a number of simple tricks to avoid or relieve back pain.

• Massage

  Continous massage keeps the stress levels down och prevents sore and stiff muscles. Massage is also a good way to treat backache.
• Adjustable table
  Many professions require a lot of sitting in front of a computer. A good thing to remember is to make sure to stand a little now and then. A height-adjustable table allows you to work both standing and sitting.
• Light exercise
  Resting too much only causes your muscles to become even tighter. Try exercising lightly, at home or at the gym. Focus on your back muscles.