Wellness Tips: Back Pain Causes
Understanding what can cause back pain can decrease our risk of developing back pain. Read more to find out how.
Many of us develop back pain as we get older. Simple back pain can be caused by sprains, strains, or osteoarthritis. Here we will discuss what some causes of simple back pain are.
Back strains are muscle tears or rips in the back muscle. This can be caused from not warming up the muscle before lifting a heavy load. Also, when lifting try to maintain proper body mechanics. When the muscle is torn, subsequent bleeding into the injured area may occur. Pain into the injured area is not immediate; this will take a couple of hours. Many continue using their back and therefore continue injuring the area also.
Back sprain is caused by over stretching the ligaments in the back. This can occur from a single activity or from gradual overuse. A lower back sprain can be caused by a tear in a vertebral disc in the lumbar area. Pain from a strain can limit one’s activity for about three to four weeks. This can become a chronic condition that may recur over time.
Osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown of the cartilage in the spine between the joints in the back of the spine. Friction will occur as bone rubs on bone, creating pain. One’s flexibility and range of motion will decrease.
In order to protect your back, the abdominal muscles need to be strengthened. Many suffer from back pain due to strong back muscles and very weak abdominal muscles. When we strengthen our abdominal muscles, we create a balance of strength between our abdomen and the opposing muscle group, the back.
by Kristy Haugen
- Read more wellness tips from this article-Oh, Your Aching Back!
Learn more about some of the causes of simple back pain.
