Bad Posture and Lower Back Pain

Bad Posture Breeds Back Pain

Bad posture whilst often overlooked is a catalyst for lower back pain and back pain dysfunction. Bad posture is a direct consequence of muscle imbalance. A muscle imbalance occurs when a muscle (the prime mover in the body) is atrophied or weak.

An example of a muscle imbalance is the rounding of the upper back as a result of prolonged time spent in front of a computer over many years in a less than desirable posture. The upper back muscles become long and weak and the chest muscles become short and tight and in time back pain ensues.

The human body has a number of compensatory mechanisms for bad posture. If the compensation mechanisms for bad posture were to fail then the joints would move too much, not just in one area, but throughout the body, creating catastrophic instability.

The Effects of Bad Posture and Your Back

Bad posture is detrimental to your back. If a person stays in a bad posture for many years, the muscles become overworked, weak and fatigued. If a person has pain in their lower back, there’s a good chance it’s related to bad posture and muscle instability.

Forward head posture is another give away sign of bad posture. Understanding the posture imbalances of back pain and seeking professional help from a trained professional is the first step to restoring muscle balance and harmony to the back and its structures.

If you avoid taking care of your bad posture, it is likely that one day you will have back pain. Bad posture will likely have an impact on your life in the form of a lower back injury. There are a number of back problems that can occur, from minor to very severe.

Lower Back Pain Causes

There are many different causes of lower back pain. The lower back is the most common site of lower back pain. Other causes are the hips, pelvis, knees and ankles. It can be the result of trauma, strain or overuse. The cause can vary, however the effect is often similar. The muscles will be affected, the discs will become overworked. The spine itself may be elongated or compressed. You can injure your back or the ligaments that hold the spine together.

If you have muscle spasms in your back, these spasms will cause pain. This happens in the lumbar muscles in the lower back. The spasm causes a tightening of the back. This tightening in turn causes pain. This may also be caused by a slipped disk, and can cause pain in the buttocks. In this situation, the pain will tend to radiate to the leg and lower abdomen.

If you experience pain in your lower back, seek medical help. There are different forms of treatments and medications. The goal is to relieve the pain as soon as possible. If your pain is severe, you may have to seek medical treatment to get rid of the pain and reduce the inflammation and muscle spasm.

There are several different forms of treatment for back pain. A massage, hot and cold therapy, osteopathic manipulation and prescription drugs. Below we explore just a few of them.

Lower Back Pain Treatments

Massage therapy

Massage therapy is an effective method of treating lower back pain. The goal is to reduce inflammation, loosen the tight muscles, reduce muscle spasms and allow the muscles to relax.

A massage can help to reduce back pain symptoms, and it is usually well received by many patients. It also helps to soothe and reduce prevent further pain.

A massage can be used to relax and release the tight muscles to improve posture and muscle balance. It is very effective in increasing blood flow in the muscles and it can improve circulation. This is important to prevent muscle spasms.

Osteopath

Osteopathic manipulation is one of the most effective treatments for lower back pain. Osteopathic manipulation is very good for stretching and strengthening. It also increases blood flow in the muscles, loosens tight muscles and improves blood circulation.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a form of therapy that can help to reduce back pain. By stimulating the central nervous system studies have shown that it is effective for reducing pain. Releasing natural chemicals into the spinal cord, brain and muscles from acupressure points. It is used for the treatment of trigger points and knots. It is also used for decreasing pain caused by the overuse of muscles. It is usually well received by patients. It is used most often for chronic pain and the treatment of muscle spasms.

Chronic Lower Back Pain

Chronic back pain is often defined as pain that continues for longer than 12 weeks or beyond the point of tissue healing. Chronic back pain takes many forms and is generally considered in two categories.

Pain with an identifiable cause OR with no identifiable cause. Depending on the diagnosis from back a pain specialist this may or may not require spine surgery as a treatment option.

However, the most common treatments for lower back pain are massage therapy, chiropractic therapy, acupuncture and orthopedic medicine. These therapies may also be used to treat upper back pain, neck pain, headache and jaw pain.

People who suffer from this pain may also seek other forms of treatment, including physiotherapy and nutrition. It is important to try to find an effective treatment for back pain. Many people are referred to physiotherapy and chiropractic therapy after trying other forms of treatment, because they don’t have a very good understanding of the cause of their pain. They also don’t know how to choose a treatment that will be effective for their pain.

However, at Back Pain Auckland we believe a more holistic approach is necessary to get to the source of your back pain. We undertake a comprehensive posture, spine and core assessment to accurately determine the source or etiology of your lower back pain. Only then can we truly understand what is driving your back pain. Once we understand the muscle imbalances associated with your back pain we can then use a corrective exercise approach to rebalance and restore your posture imbalance connected to your back pain.