Low back pain is unfortunately one of the most common maladies of modern man. I say modern man because it is doubtful that our primitive ancestors abused their backs in the ways that we do. Modern civilization has taken us out of the healthy exercise mode of wandering and gathering food, of cultivating food and made us into sedentary "couch potatoes".
The effect that this has had on our lower backs is obvious. Our sitting postures are generally quite unhealthy, slouching and allowing our lower backs to go into flexion puts a strain on the back which will eventually cause discomfort, sometimes mild but sometimes severe. Considering the number of people that spend many hours daily sitting with poor posture (especially for long periods), it is no wonder that lower back pain is so prevalent in our society.
Improper lifting is another cause of low back pain. The correct way to lift a heavy object is to place it between your feet, squat down; bending your knees, grasp the object and rise straight up using the powerful muscles of your legs to lift the weight. It is very important to lift straight up and to be careful to avoid any twisting during the lift. Your body just wasn't made to tolerate this type of force. Awkward lifting situations are a very common cause of low back pain and should definitely be avoided.
Although we can't avoid sitting, there are some ways we can avoid the resulting low back pain. First of all, try to break up your sitting periods; take a break, drink some water, go to the restroom, or any activity that will allow you to get up from your sitting position, even if only for a few minutes. Better yet do a few stretching exercises.
The very best one I know of is very simple and easy to do; just stand up straight, put both hands on your hips and lean backwards as far as you can, hold that for a couple of seconds, and return to your starting position. You only need to do a few of these several times a day to keep your low back healthy. Here's to your good health.
No comments:
Post a Comment