Back pain is one of the most common reasons people call out sick from work or seek professional help, specifically chiropractic care.
Today’s article will discuss some of the most common causes of lower back pain and how a trusted chiropractor can help alleviate any discomfort or pain.
Common causes for lower back pain
Many different injuries can cause low back pain – most often, it’s caused by an injury in the spine, muscles, or the tendons in the back. Even your daily lifestyle can play a major role in the issues associated with your back, from sitting all day for work to not maintaining proper posture.
Addressing your lower back pain as soon as possible is imperative to avoid more significant issues down the road. We must realize that in today’s society, we often neglect the fact that having a strong and functional back is essential to living a proactive lifestyle. Fitness gurus online will tell you that focusing on your abdominal muscles will help with back pain, but in reality, maintaining proper posture, seeking regular chiropractic care, and implementing daily exercises that strengthen your back will help avoid serious issues road.
Some of these common issues include:
- Muscle or ligament strain. Repeated heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement can strain back muscles and spinal ligaments. If you're in poor physical condition, constant strain on your back may cause painful muscle spasms.
- Bulging or ruptured disks. Disks act as cushions between the bones (vertebrae) in your spine. The soft material inside a disk can bulge or rupture and press on a nerve. However, you can have a bulging or ruptured disk without back pain.
- Arthritis. In some cases, arthritis in the spine can lead to a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord, a condition called spinal stenosis.
- Osteoporosis. Your spine's vertebrae can develop painful fractures if your bones become porous and brittle.
Addressing lower back pain
Now that you know the common causes of lower back pain, we’ll dive into some ways you can address treating your back pain.
We mentioned earlier that maintaining proper posture and daily exercises to strengthen your back is a great way to begin addressing any current or future back pain issues.
When exercising, choose exercises that will not cause additional strain to your muscles or ligaments but will stretch and strengthen your core muscles. To get you started, we’ve linked to a video below that shows you exercises that you can follow not only to address your back pain but improve your posture over
time.
Become GOATA & Relieve Back Pain
Additionally, try to be mindful of your posture while working and going about your daily life. If you have a desk job, maybe consider changing the chair you use for one that better supports your back. For example, the normal desk chair can actually cause more harm than good, so consider looking into a knee chair that helps support your body’s natural posture.
If your job requires you to be more hands-on, then be aware of how you're standing. Is your back straight? Are you lifting your head with your upper chest rather than your neck? Are your shoulders relaxed? These are all questions that you should ask yourself to become more mindful of your posture.
Lastly, routinely seeking chiropractic care can and is a great way to maintain proper alignment in your spine. Not only that, but your trusted chiropractor can help spot other areas of concern contributing to your back pain.
Visit us at ProActive Health today to “Align Your Spine, Realign Your Life!”
Ready to see a chiropractor, whether for the first time or as someone looking to visit a new chiropractic office? Dr. Doug Patterson at ProActive Health is the top choice in the Michiana area! He’ll help guide you in developing a plan to tackle a routine exercise plan, consuming the right foods, and targeting your goals with chiropractic care.
In 1993, Dr. Doug Patterson hurt his back and first sought the care of a Chiropractor. After this experience, he decided he wanted to help people himself by pursuing chiropractic. He is a 1997 graduate of the Life University College of Chiropractic in Marietta, Georgia, and has been in practice for 25+ years. Since then, Dr. Doug has expanded his field of practice to include functional medicine, science-based nutrition, and now certified in Shockwave Therapy. Schedule a visit with Dr. Doug at ProActive Health today!
