As the old saying goes, you have to know your enemy before you can defeat it. With that in mind, we have dedicated this article to understand the issues you face regarding back pains. Once you know what you are dealing with, it will be easier to face it. Having said that, below are the most common types of back problems and how you can avoid them.
Common Back Problems
There are many types of back pains, but they are all divided into two categories. The first category is the duration of the back pain, while the second is the location. We have listed the different types of common back problems to help you understand them better.
Duration
Whatever the reason or location of your back pain is, it’s almost always classified into either acute, subacute, or chronic.
- Acute back pain is any back pain that lasts for less than a month or four weeks at most.
- Subacute back pain is any back pain that lasts for more than four weeks but not any longer than three months.
- Lastly, chronic back pain is any back pain that exceeds three months.
Spondylolysis
When it comes to the location of your back pain, the first is spondylolysis. This back pain usually occurs at the base of your spine. When the vertebra at the lowermost part of your spine suffers from a fracture or a defect that causes it to slip forward or backward, it results in spondylolysis.
Cervical Radiculopathy
The second type of back pain, according to its location, is cervical radiculopathy. As the name suggests, this occurs in the cervical vertebrae or those vertebrae found in your neck. When these vertebrae are compressed, it causes damage to the bones’ nerve roots and disturbs their nerve function. This often results in weakness, pain, or numbness in your neck, shoulders, and even in your arms.
Back Problems: How to Avoid Them
Back problems are quite common, especially among adults and older people. This is often caused by repetitive and continuous poor posture when sitting or lifting, leading to the development of certain spinal problems. While some of these conditions can be treated through exercising and being mindful of your posture, some back problems require medical interventions. Luckily, various advancements in the field of medicine have allowed regenerative therapy using stem cells to be more accessible and affordable. On the other hand, people suffering from less severe back problems can practice the following techniques to manage their condition.
Be Mindful of Your Posture
Whether you are sitting down or standing up, you have to be mindful of your posture. If you tend to slouch while you are seated or while standing, there is a big chance that your spine curves forward. This adds pressure to your entire back, resulting in back pains.
Make sure that you keep your back straight, and if you really have to spend hours sitting down, take a break every 30 minutes or every hour to stretch.
Practice Proper Lifting
Lifting heavy objects must be done in such a way that the weight is evenly divided into different areas of your body. Otherwise, your back will have to withstand all the pressure, and that can only end badly.
Whenever you have to lift something, make sure that you straighten your back. In this way, the weight is lifted by your legs, and your back only works as a support to keep you steady.
Focus on Your Weight
Believe it or not, your weight can actually contribute to the pain you’re feeling on your back. When you are heavier than usual, your back is forced to strain itself to carry that extra weight. This added pressure on your back causes pain.
Thankfully, exercising and following a proper diet not only makes you fit but may also reduce or even diminish back pains.
Back Massager
Lastly, you might also want to invest in a good back massager. This marvelous home equipment not only saves your pocket from having to spend lots of money on getting regular massages but also reduces the frequency and/or intensity of your back pains.
Having a back massager at home is a good way to relieve yourself of all the stress and exhaustion you feel daily.
Back problems are one of the many things shared by many people nowadays, but that does not have to be the case. Avoiding back problems only takes a little practice and the development of certain habits, and you’ll definitely rid yourself of this worry.
