Low Back Pain When Leaning Backwards

There are many, many diagnoses available for those suffering with low back pain, and they can all present with very similar signs & symptoms. One such symptom is pain when leaning backwards. Two typical examples for this type of pain, which would dictate completely different treatment procedures, would be facet joint pain and a disc bulge.

If facet joint pain is your problem, this would be due to the joints in your back being 'forced against' one another as you lean backwards. The aim of treatment here would be to elicit any muscle imbalance about your lower back and look to stretch and strengthen as appropriate. In addition to this, gently mobilising the joints will also help to take some stress from them, therefore encouraging the healing process. A simple exercise to get you started may be lying on you back and then gently hugging your knees to your chest.

Alternatively, if it is a disc bulge which is causing your pain, this is likely to be a result of the disc being 'pinched' as you lean backwards, therefore causing you pain. The irony of it is, if this is the case, some kind of extension (leaning backwards) exercise will form the basis of your treatment. This is likely to begin with you simply lying on your stomach little and often throughout the day. From here, you may well progress to gentle extension exercises while lying on your front.

The important thing to note here is, what may appear to be similar problems due to them both causing pain when leaning backwards, will actually need completely different treatment techniques to resolve the problem.

If you were to perform the exercises intended for a facet joint problem on a disc bulge, or vice versa for that matter, you will only succeed in making your pain worse.

No treatment or exercise programme should make your pain worse, if it does, something needs to be changed. It maybe you are performing the correct exercises, but are just being a bit to vigorous to begin with. However, it may also be that you are simply performing the incorrect exercises for your problem.

Either way, if things are making your pain worse, you need to change what you are doing, either by easing off or trying a different exercise altogether.

Causes of Low Back Pain

Many of us suffer from low back pain. It is amazing that most of these problems are preventable. Generally, the majority of low back pain is coming from incorrect sitting, incorrect posture and improper lifting. For whatever reason, we become lazy and take shortcuts. This puts extra burden on the lower back which can lead to discomfort and pain.

The lower back consist of five intervertebral discs. These are often referred to as the lumbar. These discs are stacked on top of each other. They are separated by soft tissue, tendons, ligaments and muscles. The bones provide the structure and rigidity while the soft tissue provides for flexibility.

We are more susceptible to problems in the lower back as we age. This is compounded by the changes in our work habits. Many of our work hours are spent sitting in fixed positions. This is especially true for those who work on computers.

The lower back needs to maintain its flexibility. This is important for our normal mobility. If the back becomes stiff, then it loses its flexibility. This situation can be more susceptible to injury and discomfort.

One of the causes of low back pain is when the joints fail to function properly. Between each of the cervical discs, there is soft tissue. This holds the discs together. There are certain conditions which may impact the joint from functioning properly. This can lead to stiffness in muscle pain.

Another impact to the low back is strain and tension to the muscles of the spine. This is often referred to as myofascial pain. This occurs when there is more stress put on this area than usual. This may come from being seated in a certain position or from overexertion and sometimes injury.

If we sit for long hours, the weight of our body is absorbed by the spinal column. If these it in and improper position, the weight may be concentrated in certain areas. This can cause fatigue to the soft tissues and muscles between the cervical discs. As these areas fatigue, they become stiff and begins to hurt.

One of the major problems of lower back pain is that you may not notice it progressing. There may be some initial tension or stiffness. This is usually just brushed off. However, the area continues to degenerate. This eventually leads to a greater level of pain and discomfort.

There are two main categories of lower back pain. The first is chronic and the second is acute. In the case of chronic back pain, it is much more serious than acute. Chronic back pain may come from serious conditions such as degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease or spinal disc herniation. These conditions may require surgery and physical therapy.

Acute back pain generally comes from damaged muscles, tendons, or ligaments. It generally strikes a person suddenly. This may be the result of lifting too much weight or a sudden movement of the body. These are generally treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, chiropractic manipulation, exercise and massage therapy.

If you suffer from lower back pain, you should seek out natural treatments if at all possible. Stretching exercise and massage chair therapy can be very therapeutic and relieving of pain and discomfort. Check with your medical professional as to your situation and they are recommendations.

There are many ways to prevent low back pain. Make sure that your sitting in an upright position with your shoulders back area posture is very important. Also make sure that when you lift, you use your legs and not your back. Prevention is always the best medicine. The key to preventing low back pain is to maintain the flexibility of the lower back. Diet exercise stretching and massage help to maintain the vitality of the lumbar region.

Lower Back Pain Causes: What Your Doctors Can't Tell You

Lower back pain causes can be pretty confusing to a lot of people who suffer from this condition. "Do I have bulging discs?", "Do I have arthritis?", Or, more frightening, "Do I have cancer?" Are several of the questions that often come to mind when someone has pain in the lower back that comes on for no apparent reason.

One thing for sure is that most doctors can actually tell you if you have any of the conditions above by doing tests like x-rays or an MRI. But did you know that less than 5% of all painful low back cases are due to serious problems that require surgery or chemotherapy?

That's right. Over 95% of lower back pain causes are because of "non-serious" conditions that don't require surgery or other complicated medical management. That means that in most cases your doctor may send you home with a prescription for pain medication and tell you to "rest" your back until the problems decrease.

Although most doctors may realize that your pain is coming from muscle(s) strains, what they won't be able to tell you is which muscles are strained and what you can do about them. This is because most doctors don't have the kind of time to spend with you that will help you understand exactly what's going on with your back.

This is why it would be beneficial for anyone with back pain to have a good understanding of how various muscles can affect your back and what to do about it when they do.

You may not be aware of it, but, many of the muscles that can really contribute to a lot of these problems aren't located in your low back at all. Some people will give you the impression that it's your stomach muscles that will cause a lot of back pain. But this is not 100% accurate either.

Your leg, hip, and internal pelvis muscles will all affect how your back feels and functions. Many times it's a combination of several muscle groups that cause a sort of "domino effect" and give you the feeling that something is seriously wrong with your back and cause a lot of confusion about where your pain is actually coming from.

You may know of someone who has back pain and have gone through several of the tests to find the cause. They've had an MRI study done. They've had x-rays done. They have gone through all the lab tests. And, their doctor says that all the tests are "negative". What this means is that the tests didn't find anything significant that could be causing the painful problem.

This happens to 1000s of people everyday. They know that they have back pain, but their doctors tell them that they can find no reason for it. Sometimes people leave the doctor's office feeling like the problem is "all in their heads".

This is unfortunate because what people aren't told is that "muscle strains" don't show up on any test. You heard me right. You could have muscles that are tied in a huge knot and they won't show up on any test. But many doctor's fail to tell their patients this simple fact.

If you or someone you know have had the experience of having negative test results for your lower back discomfort, but it continues to bother you, it may be helpful if you asked your doctor about which muscles might be causing your problems. A good physical therapist could also help answer these types of questions.

Remember, over 95% of most back pain cases are due to low back pain causes that are not serious.

Upper Back Pain Herbal Remedies, Causes and Symptoms

Upper back pain is also referred as thoracic pain which is felt in the area between bottom of the neck and low back. Upper body of human beings forms a thoracic cage round heart, lungs and liver. This is a sturdy structure attached with the ribs to protect delicate internal organs.

Upper back comprised of bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons to support the body in balancing head movement and maintaining overall balance of the body while doing simple activities like walking and changing postures. The upper back of human body contains seven vertebra which are separated by intervertebral discs to avoid them from rubbing each other and facilitate smooth and friction free movement. It is the most rigid and strong part of the body with limited range of motion. Muscles, ligaments and tendons are soft part of the back which makes the limited movement of the upper back possible. Muscles are attached to the bones by tendons, and ligaments are strong bands of tissues which link the bones. Muscles provide all the power necessary for the movement. Combined function of all these three parts of upper back control hyperextend, hyperflex and twisting.

Injuries, infections and overuse of muscles are the most common cause of pain in the back. Sprained muscles can cause pain during the movement as well as during resting position too as these muscles are active even when person is not making any physical movement. Ruptured or herniated disc in cervical spine is another cause of upper backache which is commonly evident. The intervertebral disc in between two vertebra bulges out due to wear and tear and other reasons to hinder the movement and cause upper backache.

Arthritis can also cause upper backache particularly osteoarthritis as it can misalign the musculoskeletal system of cervical spine in upper back to cause pain. Pinched nerves, arteries and veins are other common reasons for upper backache, in advent of such situation the pain radiates towards arms and shoulder and also causes cooling of arm. Osteoporosis can cause pain in any part of the body as it promotes loss of bone density, its effects can cause backache too. Muscle spasms are rarely seen but they can also be a cause of upper back pain, these spasms are involuntary and uncontrollable and can strain the muscles to cause pain. Fibromyalgia is another disease which can promote upper backache.

Herbs and herbal remedies are extremely safe and easy to treat upper back pain caused by any reason. Chamomile tea is excellent muscle relaxant to relieve pain and initiate movement. Burdock roots and bromelain has been used since ancient times for alleviating lower and upper back pain. Massages of eucalyptus oil can relieve the pain immediately, massage with warm mustard seed extract is also a good herbal remedy for back pain. Cayenne pepper has pain inhibiting properties and is popularly used as topical application for pain relief. Application of apple cider vinegar before going to bed is also extremely helpful in treating upper back pain.

Stomach and Back Pain - Responsible for Digestion Troubles and Grim Condition

When you think of back pain, the most common type of discomfort that comes to mind is that which stalk from the lower part of the back and into the hip area. While this type of back pain is indeed the most frequent complaint in back pain sufferers, stomach back pain is another sort of discomfort that can be difficult to deal with over the long term. Stomach back pain refers to the area in the center of the spine. It is made up of twelve vertebrae that run along the middle of the back, where the rib cage attaches.

Most of the time, stomach and back pain stem from a strained muscle in the area, but it can also be caused by a herniated or slipped disc. These types of problems can be easily diagnosed through the use of an x-ray, and treatment can be determined by you and your doctor. On the other hand, a pulled or strained muscle in the stomach area can occur from lifting something that is too heavy or overdoing your exercise program. This type of stomach back pain will usually respond to a variety of home treatment options.

Symptoms of Stomach Back Pain:

Most people will experience some kind of back pain in their lives. Stomach t pain and back pain are closely related. However, Stomach pain doesn't always need a trip to the doctor, or emergency room. Still, if it does occur, it is better to go and get a piece of mind then to leave it and keep worrying if it is something else. When you come across abdomen pain, it usually means you ate something you shouldn't have.

When you acknowledge stomach and back pain symptoms, you should never turn a blind eye towards them. Most people don't know that stomach and back pain, specifically, is the leading cause of disability in people. However, whether its stomach and back pain, or any other pain associated with the back, you should have a specialist examine you immediately to ensure that you aren't getting worse, for the pain may be an indicator of worse things to come.

Pay Attention to Stomach and Back Pain:

Doctors will agree that if you are suffering from stomach and back pain [http://www.backpainreliefhelp.com/Back_Pain_Medication/], you should limit your time in bed to a day or two. The best position to treat back pain is to lie on your back with your knees and lower legs elevated with pillows, or to lie on your side with a pillow between your legs. Generally, activity is the best therapy for stomach back pain. Once you are feeling better, you can begin an exercise program that will gently strengthen your muscles in your back and abdominal area. This will help to ensure that you do not suffer from additional stomach back pain in the future.

Running And Back Pain - Check Your Technique For A Likely Cause

Running and back pain are mentioned in the same sentence more often than they really should be. Running is an excellent activity for staying in shape and for many it provides a lifetime of enjoyment, challenges and purpose. For others it's either a short-lived activity or a stop-start routine due to injury.

If you experience back pain whilst running or following a session check out the common causes below:

• Worn or inappropriate running shoes


• Trying to hold yourself upright


• Pushing forward to run


• Too much bounce in your stride


• Running whilst carrying an injury

Start with the easy options such as changing your shoes. If your running shoes are worn out or not suitable for you they will not absorb the constant shock of the impact with the road causing compression and jarring in the discs in your spine. Visit a good running shop and ask to have your running technique assessed so they can recommend the best shoe for you.

If changing your running shoes does not help get yourself checked out by a physical therapist for any hidden injury problems. If you still experience back pain whilst running the most sensible thing to do is to assess your technique.

Is it your technique?

For most runners it's lower back pain that causes the most problems. I believe there are two main causes for this in relation to running technique.

1. Trying to hold the torso upright in the style of Michael Johnson by tightening the lower back muscles. It is now accepted by most coaches that Johnson's upright technique, once considered unconventional, is a very efficient way to run. However, if you look at how Johnson's technique evolved you will see that he used his lower back less and less to achieve it.

To achieve an upright running style without tightening your lower back you need to 'let go' of the muscles likely to collapse your torso forward. The latissimus dorsi muscles are then able to perform their proper function to maintain your 'effortless up' - this will take all the stress off your lower back.

2.Another cause of lower back pain for runners is the thought that running is about going forward, okay of course it is, but it doesn't require you to 'push' forward to do it. Running is really about passing a force into the ground and using the hip, knee and ankle joints to translate that into a forward motion.

Golden Rule: Use the ground and not your back!

Your running technique could be the cause of your problem. Once you can develop an efficient, relaxed style you may find that running and back pain are no longer mentioned in the same breath.

3 Common Postural Mistakes That Cause Back Pain

For many people, posture correction is a key component of back pain treatment. Posture - the way we hold ourselves when sitting, standing or laying - can either help protect our backs or be the cause of its pain. The tension and alignment of our soft tissues and joints are affected by posture and the lower back, both highly mobile and load-bearing, is perhaps most affected by poor posture.

Are you making any of the following common postural mistakes?

Anterior Pelvic Tilt

Since the pelvis is the foundation of the upper body, its position affects and is affected by the position of the lower back. The lumbar spine in the lower back has a natural inward arch that helps balance the forces absorbed by the spine. The inward arch is called lordosis. Often, people have too much lordosis. As the arch increases, the base of the spine is pulled upward. The base of the spine is the sacrum, which attaches to the hip bones via the sacroiliac joints. This causes the back of the pelvis to raise and the front of the pelvis to drop lower.

Anterior pelvic tilt is most often caused by muscle imbalances; tense lower back and weak hamstring and glute muscles can cause the pelvis to be pulled up in back, while tight quads and hip flexors pull it down in front without sufficient counter-force from weak abdominal muscles. This may result from imbalanced training or from simply standing and sitting with an increased arch for years. Wearing high heels, being overweight and being pregnant all predispose a person to anterior pelvic tilt.

It is important to correct this postural distortion, as it takes a toll on spinal discs, joints and the muscles throughout the pelvis and back. You may require myofascial release if muscle tension has begun to cause knots in the myofascia (the connective tissue surrounding muscles). Exercise to target the abdominal, glute and hamstring muscles will be helpful in conjunction with efforts to relax the tight opposing muscles.

To see if you have anterior pelvic tilt, stand with your back against a wall, making sure your buttocks and shoulders are touching the wall. If there is more than a two-inch gap between your lower back and the wall, you may have hyperlordosis.

Forward Head

This type of postural dysfunction is on the rise due to the proliferation of small electronic devices like iPhones and our increasing reliance on them. Forward head posture is just what is sounds like: The head is positioned in front of the body's mid-line. Ideally, the head is supported by the neck directly over the shoulders. This position maintains the cervical arch within the neck and keeps neck, upper back and shoulder muscles at the appropriate length.

When the head is positioned in front of the body, its weight is no longer balanced on the spine. Rather, the upper back and neck muscles must support it. In order to look straight ahead with forward head, the muscles in the back of your neck must shorten and the cervical arch increases. This can lead to muscular pain, myofascial pain, premature cervical disc wear, cervical joint degeneration and tension headaches.

Often when people crane their heads forward, they are trying to get closer to what they're looking at. Consciousness of this tendency combined with efforts to counter it, such as raising objects closer to your face, can help to reverse forward head. Myofascial release and stretching exercises will help to relax tight neck and upper back muscles.

Slouching

We are all likely guilty of slouching at times. Some slouch when they stand or walk, and this postural mistake is particularly common when sitting. Slouching occurs when the upper back rounds out, the shoulders droop forward and the lower back flattens. Often, forward head accompanies slouching. The spine is a unit, and changes in one area are often reflected by changes in another.

A leading cause of slouching is core muscle weakness. The muscles of the lower back, pelvis, buttocks and stomach are relied upon to support spinal alignment and uprightness of the upper body. If these muscles aren't working to do these jobs, the spine will round out and the upper body will sag. Your chances of slouching increase with the amount of time you spend in a sitting or standing position; even the strongest of cores tires out eventually.

One way to counteract slouching is to consciously engage your core muscles when sitting or standing. Focus on your deep abdominal muscles and gently engage them. These muscles support the lower spine. Doing balanced core exercises such as bird dogs, bridges, partial crunches and planks will help to correct slouching. As with other forms of postural distortions, myofascial release may be needed in addition to stretching in order to relax muscles that have been chronically tensed by habitual slouching.

Being aware of common postural mistakes will help prevent you from making them. You can reduce or eliminate back pain by holding your body in proper alignment.