Back Pain Relief and Lower Back Pain Treatment

Get back pain relief with these simple treatment and prevention tips.

With back pain being one of the top reasons for physician visits and lost time at work, back pain relief is the number one goal of many back pain sufferers.

Back pain can range from simply annoying to completely debilitating. It doesn't matter if you have been lifting weights your whole life or been a couch potato, back pain can find you. Simple everyday tasks can turn into excruciating back pain with just a simple crouch, bend or twist. Knowing what causes back pain and how to get back pain relief is important to reduce the chances of being laid up due to a back injury.

If you suffer from back pain and are seeking back pain relief it is important to follow the information in this article. In addition, adding a few simple stretches to your fitness program will also help. To get started on a safe and effective stretching routine learn more about The Stretching Handbook and how it can improve your fitness.

What is Back Pain?
Back pain actually refers to a group of injuries or disorders that can cause pain in the back area. Back pain may occur anywhere along the back. It may be bone or muscle related pain. The pain may be focused in one area of the back or may radiate to other areas.

Pain in the back can take many forms and have many causes. Back pain is more than just pain in the back; it has underlying causes that must be addressed to reduce the pain. Failure to correct the underlying causes can lead to chronic back problems and continued back pain.

Vertabrae and vertabral disc picture from Principles of Anatomy and Physiology by G.J. Tortora and N.P. Anagnostakos.

The Anatomy of Back Pain
The back has a complex anatomy of bones and muscles. The base of the skeletal system is the spinal column. This is made up of 33 individual vertebrae grouped into specific areas of the spine. The upper portion (neck) is the cervical spine and consists of 7 vertebrae. Below that is the thoracic section with 12 vertebrae, followed by the 5 vertebrae of the lumbar spine, 5 in the sacral region and finally, 4 in the coccygeal region.

The vertebrae all fit together in a straight line when viewed from the front or back, with a natural curvature that is convex in the cervical area, concave in the thoracic, back to convex in the lumbar, and ending with a concave curve in the pelvic region (sacral and coccygeal.) The vertebrae are held together with strong fibrous ligaments. In between the vertebrae are fluid filled discs that allow for the limited movement and provide cushioning.

Spinal column image from Principles of Anatomy and Physiology
by G.J. Tortora and N.P. Anagnostakos.

The muscles of the back are connected to the spine by strong tendons. The upper back is covered by the trapezius muscle, the rhomboids (major and minor), and the teres major. The mid portion of the back is covered by the large latissimus dorsi muscle. The erector spinae group attaches to and supports the spinal column. These muscles all anchor on the spinal column. The upper and mid-back muscles all attach to the arm or shoulder, while the erector spinae group anchor at the spine and attach to the ribs and pelvis.

There are many nerves that come out of the spinal column and travel through or under the musculature of the back. The ribs attach to the spinal column in the back, also. The kidneys are tucked deep in the back. The abdominal muscles and the hip flexors also have a direct impact on back pain at times.

What Causes Back Pain?
As stated above, back pain has many possible causes. These causes may be skeletal, muscular, or nervous system in nature. Any time mid to lower back pain is experienced it is important to rule out kidney involvement. Only a physician can make this determination.

The vertebrae of the spinal column are designed to rest atop each other in a very organized pattern. If they slip out of place they put pressure on the nerve bundles that exit at that point and stretch the ligaments and tendons attached to them. Fractures to the vertebrae will also cause pain due to the injury itself and the inflammation surrounding the injury.

The discs that provide cushioning for the vertebrae can bulge or rupture at times causing extra pressure on the nerves and friction between the bones. A bulging disc will also cause problems with flexion and extension in that joint of the spine. These are oftent he result of muscle imbalances.

Any of the muscles of the back can be strained, causing pain. The most commonly strained muscles are the erector spinae. This results in lower back pain and stiffness. The latissimus dorsi can be strained as well, leading to pain under the arm and across the middle of the back. The muscles of the upper back can be strained, especially with postural issues.

Back pain can be caused by acute injuries or chronic conditions. An acute injury can cause the muscles to stretch or tear (a strain), fractures to the vertebrae or ribs, dislocations or subluxations of the vertebrae or ribs, deep bruising, or a bulging disc. Chronic conditions, most commonly muscle imbalances, can result in many of the same issues. Imbalances may occur in strength, flexibility, or both. The imbalance itself can cause pain, but more often it leads to another condition that results in pain.

A common imbalance resulting in back pain is the shortening of the hip flexors and weakening of the gluteus, and other muscles of the hips, from extended time spent sitting. This causes an excessive forward pull from the tight hip flexors and can lead to injury in any of these muscles.

Signs and Symptoms
The first symptom of back pain is pain. The pain may be focused or radiate. Weakness at or below the site of the pain may also result. Stiffness in the muscles around the injury site is also common. Classic symptoms of back pain include:

Treatment of Back Pain
Getting back pain relief can take on many forms, depending on the type and source of the pain. As stated above, the correction of the underlying cause of the pain is the most important step in treatment. There are many traditional methods of treatment that have been used by many; however, these may not be the best choices.

Traditionally, back pain sufferers have gone to orthopedic surgeons to address the problem. These doctors often prescribe cortisone shots and anti-inflammatory medications to deal with the pain. The problem here is that it does not address the underlying cause, so it is a short term fix. Surgical interventions are often prescribed, also. These may help with the immediate issue causing pain, however the new scarring will cause additional pain and the original cause of the problem probably has not been fixed. So, the pain will return again when the same forces are applied to the area.

Physical therapy is another commonly sought after option. The idea behind physical therapy for back pain is good; however, it does not always follow through. A physical therapist will work to reduce the pain symptoms, but a busy facility may seek to do only that. The underlying causes may be ignored in the quest for immediate pain relief. While the pain may go away for a short time, it will return once the underlying problem flares up again.

Chiropractic care is another popular option. This involves the manual manipulation of the bones, tendons, ligaments and muscles to realign the bones. Unfortunately, the same forces that pulled the bones out of alignment in the first place are still there and will continue to work on the bones again. Unless the muscle imbalances are addressed the problem will continue.

Massage is another good option. This will help address imbalances in flexibility, allowing the therapist to work on muscles that are tight and inflexible. They will also be able to break up scar tissue in injured muscles, allowing them a greater range of motion.

And finally, addressing the muscle imbalances through post-rehab fitness training will help reverse the conditions that caused the pain in the first place. Strengthening and stretching the muscles will allow them to support the spinal column without causing excess pressure. Flexibility is essential for a healthy back and this can be addressed with a good fitness program. Watch instructional videos of lower back stretching exercises.

Stretching is one of the most under-utilized techniques for improving athletic performance and getting rid of those annoying sports injuries. Don't make the mistake of thinking that something as simple as stretching won't be effective.

And to help you improve your flexibility quickly and safely, you can't go past The Stretching Handbook & DVD. Together they include over 130 clear photographs and 40 videos of every possible stretching exercise, for every major muscle group in your body.

The Stretching Handbook & DVD will show you, step-by-step, how to perform each stretch EXACTLY! Plus, you'll learn the benefits of flexibility; the 7 critical rules for safe stretching; and how to stretch properly. Discover more about The Stretching Handbook & DVD here.

Prevention of Back Pain
Avoiding back pain in the first place is a much easier course than treating it after it occurs. Prevention of back pain involves avoiding those underlying causes mentioned above. Instead of treating them after they occur, avoid them in the first place. Muscle imbalances can be avoided by keeping good posture, working the muscles evenly, and practicing good stretching.

Sitting is one of the major culprits in back pain. Sitting for extended periods of time can lead to back pain, especially in the same position. Instead, change positions every 10 minutes or so. Get up and walk, stand and stretch, change your foot and leg positions. Anything you can do to change the body position will help.

Standing in the same place for a long time can be a problem, too. Proper footwear, with neutral insoles, will help cushion the body and put it in the proper position. A major problem many people experience is shifting weight from side to side, and eventually putting all the weight on one side for an extended period. This puts unbalanced pressure on the spine and pelvis. Instead, try to keep even weight on both feet.

Lifting is an area of common back injury. Improper lifting form, especially when muscle imbalances already exist, is the most common cause of back pain. If a muscle imbalance already exists and you lift a load that is heavier than those weakened muscles can handle they will become injured. Inflexible or weak muscles are easily injured. Correcting the imbalances and postural deficiencies will help prevent lifting injuries.

Stress is another common injury catalyst. Stress causes the muscles to tense up and lowers your tolerance for pain. This is a formula for injury. Stress is a part of everyday life, but it can be minimized. Deep breathing, a brisk walk, or talking about your problems can all help alleviate stress.

A strong, flexible back is much less susceptible to injury. Follow a good program of stretching and strengthening, reduce stress, practice good posture while sitting and standing, and lift with proper form and you can help prevent many of the causes of back pain.