The Most Common Causes of Back Pain
4 out of 5 Australians will experience back pain during their lives. The likelihood of suffering some form of back pain only grows as you get older, so it’s vital to know some of the common causes and how you can best prevent and treat ongoing pain.
This article outlines the basics of back pain, what you can be doing to avoid it, and help you know whether a consultation with Muscle Joint Bone may be able to help you.
What is Back Pain?
Your back is a complex structure of muscle, joints, and vertebrae that provide support for your entire body (pelvis, ribs, shoulders, arms, and skull in particular). When even the smallest part of the system isn’t quite right, the effects can be painful and cause issues in your day-to-day life.
Back pain can look and feel different for everybody. It can be sharp stabbing pains, stiffness/difficulty moving, aches, or spasms. You can feel it anywhere, too – pain in the lower back, upper back, neck, and tailbone. Maybe the pain is minor, or maybe the effects are difficult to manage, spreading down into legs or making regular physical activity worse. There’s no one type of back pain, but it’s important to understand what you’re experiencing and seek diagnosis/treatment before anything becomes too difficult to manage.
What Causes Back Pain?
Sometimes there are underlying conditions causing pain, but for the vast majority of people suffering back pain, this isn’t the case. For most of us, general and often unnoticeable habits in our daily lives can be steadily worsening the state of our back. Often the factors causing ongoing issues are things we don’t think about or notice. Some of the most common causes of back pain include:
- Poor posture
- Long hours spent sitting (such as at school or an office)
- Obesity
- Overexertion
- Not enough regular physical activity
- Weak back muscles
- Muscle strains or spasms
Whilst back pain may be a consequence of some ongoing conditions such as osteoarthritis or ankylosing spondylitis, 9 out of 10 cases of back pain are caused by lifestyle habits. A simple change of routine could be the treatment you need!
How to Treat Back Pain?
Maintaining a flexible and strong back is the key to preventing further pain. Just a few lifestyle changes that could have a powerful impact on your physical wellbeing could include:
- Regular stretching and exercise
- Avoiding sitting for long periods of time
- Investing in supportive footwear
- Developing good posture
- Practicing relaxing and easing the stress put on your back
- Practicing good sleep habits
Overall, a great way to get a better understanding of your body and what may be the underlying cause of any pain is to consult an expert. Physio, chiropractic care, and osteopathy treatment can all offer an incredible understanding of what may be the root of any ongoing pain, and trusting an expert to build a personalised treatment plan can work wonders in improving your physical function.
Seeking treatment can give you peace of mind and confidence in knowing what exactly is happening in your body, and the advice provided even from a single consultation can be carried out for the rest of your life.
Book an Appointment at Muscle Joint Bone Today
Back pain can go ignored all too often. Sometimes the lack of clear cause can let us leave pain untreated, and ongoing habits can worsen our pain and mobility over time. If you’re struggling with any sort of back pain and are seeking to look into the underlying cause, Muscle Joint Bone may be able to help. Our team of health experts can provide a full assessment and consultation of your back, helping you to build a tailored treatment plan that will equip you to ease your pain through daily routine and positive habits.
If you’re tired of back pain affecting your everyday life, book an appointment with Muscle Joint Bone today. Contact Muscle Joint Bone Doreen on 9715 0582 or Muscle Joint Bone Epping on 9088 8228.