Prevention, The Best Treatment for Back Pain

An estimated 50 million Americans suffer from chronic back pain. Back pain can occur as a result of bad personal health habits and personal risk factors such as smoking, excessive weight gain, lack of exercise, lack of flexibility, and unnecessary strain on the back.

Depending on the cause, back pain can occur in different areas of the back and inflict different types and degrees of pain. Some patients experience an occasional dull pain, while others suffer constant agonizing pain making even the simplest movements difficult. Either way, back pain can prohibit people from completing normal daily activities.

To reduce the risk of back pain, patients must understand what causes unnecessary strain on the back. Once patients understand the causes, they can find ways to eliminate back pain from their lives.

Some tips for preventing or minimizing the occurrence of back pain include

• Refraining from excessive strenuous activities
• Limiting the amount of time spent performing heavy manual labor
• Reducing participation in strenuous sports.

If avoiding strenuous activities and taking preventive measures do not prevent back pain, or an existing condition worsens, a visit to the physician’s office is necessary. After examining a patient with chronic back pain, a physician can determine if surgery, medication or other forms of treatment may solve the problem. Muscle relaxers or pain relievers may help relieve the pain. In some cases, surgery might be needed to repair damaged muscle or tissue.

Osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) offer another form of treatment called osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). OMT is a hands-on treatment where D.O.s use their hands to examine the back and other parts of the body such as joints, tendons, ligaments, and muscles, for pain and restriction during motion that could signal an injury or impaired function. OMT can be helpful in relieving back pain as well as relieving discomfort and musculoskeletal abnormalities associated with a number of disorders including asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, menstrual pain, sinus disorders, and migraines.

Regardless of the method of treatment your physician chooses, practicing healthy habits and taking preventive measures will reduce your chances of suffering from back pain whether you are 5 years old or 75 years old. Taking care of your body before a problem appears is always the best medicine.

Sit Up Straight!

Years of bad posture is the cause of back pain for many.
Prevent back pain by making a habit of sitting up straight and using correct form when lifting heavy items or completing daily tasks. Whether you work construction or spend your days typing on a computer, the way you sit, twist, bend, lift things, and even relax may either cause or prevent back pain.

Those who practice good posture when sitting, use their legs when lifting, and eliminate awkward twisting and bending throughout the day will most likely experience the least amount of back pain.

A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 1999 reported that patients receiving OMT for low back pain required significantly less medication and less physical therapy than those who didn’t receive OMT.

This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to be used in place of a physician diagnosis. If you are experiencing health problems, we strongly suggest you contact your physician or find a D.O. in your area.