Back pain is pain felt in the back that usually originates from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine.
Back pain is one of humanity's most frequent complaints. In the U.S., acute low back pain (also called lumbago) is the fifth most common reason for physician visits. About nine out of ten adults experience back pain at some point in their life, and five out of ten working adults have back pain every year. Low back pain causes 40% of missed days of work in the United States. Additionally, it is the single leading cause of disability worldwide.
- Carry Heavy Bags. This one is particular common with woman but with the increase in men carrying laptops etc. in cases it affects anyone. Carrying a bag of any kind on one shoulder will cause you to be off balanced and cause your spin to curve. As a general rule of thumb a bag should weigh less than 10% of your body weight otherwise you most likely are doing yourself damage!
- Old Mattress. The life span of a good mattress is approximately 8-10 years and if you have not replaced yours in over ten years, chances are you are doing damage to your spine. You want a mattress that is not too hard, and not too soft, it needs to support your back but still be comfortable enough for you to get a good night's rest.
- Sitting All Day. Bad news for the population that has desk jobs, sitting all day whilst it may feel nice at the time is very dangerous on your back, that is unless you maintain a proper posture 8 hours a day 5 days a week day in day out. Not having proper posture is not the only problem that office jobs can cause, sitting puts an extra 50% more pressure on your spin than standing does, ask your office about the option of a standing desk to help you build core strength and minimise the risk of long term injury, or if you must sit make sure you stand and stretch regularly.
- Poor Shoe Choice. Whilst stilettos and other forms of high heels get all the publicity, flats can be just as bad for you. Flats have a tendency to not support your foot correctly and force you to constantly adjust your foot in your shoe, distributing your body weight unevenly. Stilettos on the other hand force you to arch your back for balance putting unnecessary stress on your joints.
- Stress. Stress causes more than just grey hairs, it causes your whole body to subtly tense up and the muscles in your neck and back do not get a chance to relax.
- Lack of Exercise. Exercise builds strength and muscle tone, this decreased pressure means that your back and neck don't have to work as hard to support you and you minimise the risk of back pain. Core training exercises that strengthen your back and stomach are the best options.
- Poor Diet. Not surprisingly weight gain and from a poor diet is one of the leading causes of back pain and can be detrimental for your long term health in many other ways. Some studies suggest that even a 5 to 10 percent drop in body weight can improve the condition of your back exponentially.
- Holding a Grudge. Research has shown that people who practice forgiveness have fewer feelings of depression, anger and physical aches and pains. When emotional your muscles tense causing the strength of your pain signals to be affected.