Back pain is no fun and can every limit daily activities and dampen your mood.
Here are some common causes of back pain:
(1)
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 can 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.
Disk disease is often found incidentally when you have spine X-rays for some other reason.
Arthritis. Osteoarthritis can affect the lower back. In some cases, arthritis in the spine can lead to a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord, a condition called spinal stenosis.
Skeletal irregularities. A condition in which your spine curves to the side (scoliosis) also can lead to back pain, but generally not until middle age.
Osteoporosis. Your spine's vertebrae can develop compression fractures if your bones become porous and brittle.
Risk factors that affect spinal health:
(2)
Age. Back pain is more common as you get older, starting around age 30 or 40.
Lack of exercise. Weak, unused muscles in your back and abdomen might lead to back pain.
Excess weight. Excess body weight puts extra stress on your back.
Diseases. Some types of arthritis and cancer can contribute to back pain.
Improper lifting. Using your back instead of your legs can lead to back pain.
Psychological conditions. People prone to depression and anxiety appear to have a greater risk of back pain.
How can Pilates help? Good Pilates instructors understand how to create not only balanced program that helps you stretch and release tight muscles and soft tissue to relieve stress off the joints and spinal canal but to help you strengthen weak, over stretched muscles.
Our clients have seen remarkable success in rehabbing herniated discs, recovering from surgery
and relieving chronic pain.
(1) Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/back-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20369906
(2) Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/back-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20369906
