How common is low back pain?
540 million people around the world are affected by back pain at any one time. Chances are, you have experienced this yourself or seen a loved one suffer with back pain of sorts.
Why does your back suddenly “go”?
At Spinavita Chiropractic, we see many people with back pain which has occurred suddenly and without obvious reason. Even if you are physically fit and perhaps frequently weight train, it tends to be something as simple as picking up a sock from the floor, drying your hair, turning over in bed and looking over your shoulder to reverse the car that suddenly causes our backs to ‘go’ rather than anything particularly strenuous. But why is this?
Commonly, pain occurs after ‘loading’ our backs for a prolonged stretch of time. ‘Loading’ can involve a repetitive motion, such as continually lifting heavy boxes beyond your body’s tolerance or painting a wall all day with little to no breaks. It can also be the result of a sustained action or position such as sitting at a desk or in the car. Over time, our body is unable to rest from the ‘load’ and thus, causes pain.
How do you avoid your back suddenly “going”?
Our bodies are designed to be able to do all the activities previously mentioned however, too much of anything increases ‘load’. Variability of movement and ‘loading’ in moderation is the key to prevent back pain. This is also applicable to our other joints in our extremities. As long as the capacity of the structures in our body is greater or equal to the demand of it, you shouldn’t experience negative symptoms. Try taking a break from your desk or a repetitive movement at work, even if it is for a minute; this will be helpful in the long-term.
Have a look at one of my previous blog posts “Is bending my back bad for me?”. This outlines the importance of gradual exposure to movements. It explains in more detail why you can gradually load bit by bit, with appropriate rest times to increase your body’s capacity and prevent your back suddenly ‘going’ and causing pain.
By Jennifer Barr
