Dealing with lower back pain should never be a guessing game. Left unchecked, a minor ache can turn into a debilitating injury and leave you out of sorts for weeks or even months. As a large portion of back pain is caused by bad posture, especially when sitting for long periods, it’s becoming more and more common for people of all ages to suffer from lower back pain. Check out below ‘Why a Posture Assessment will help Eliminate Lower Back Pain’ and give yourself the best opportunity to live pain-free.

 

C.H.E.K Practitioner For Lower Back Pain

– why choose one? CHEK Exercise Coach

 

There are many different kinds of health practitioners out there, many claiming to help with back pain. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to navigate which one is the best fit for you and which is simply putting a band-aid on your problem.

If you were to put together a ‘best of all worlds’ practitioner for back pain, you’d end up with something like a C.H.E.K practitioner. Looking at your body as a system of many moving parts, a C.H.E.K practitioner’s goal is to find the cause of your problem and then give you a specialised treatment plan.

Trained in human biomechanics, orthopaedic rehabilitation and sports performance, they’ll come in with an open mind and give you the best chance to relieve back pain. Plus, even if you don’t suffer from low back pain, a C.H.E.K practitioner can give you all the tools to prevent future injury.

 

What do Comprehensive Back Pain Assessments entail?

 

If you’re hesitant about signing up for a comprehensive back pain assessment, we understand. It can be intimidating to take the leap to fix years of bad habits. However, we promise, there’s nothing to be nervous about.

Much of your back pain assessment will be chatting about your day to day life and habits. You’ll also be asked to do small movements within your comfort zone to determine what causes pain. While each appointment is different, your C.H.E.K practitioner will likely take a look at your spine to rule out any major issues. From here, you may do some stretches, core exercises, a reflex test or a motor exam. Each of which is designed to check for tight muscles or muscles that aren’t doing their job correctly.

You’ll leave your comprehensive back pain assessment with a better idea of how severe your back pain is and the next steps to eliminating it altogether.

 

back ache auckland

The ins and outs of an Orthopaedic Analysis, Spinal and Core Assessments

 

Another major part of your back pain assessment will be an orthopaedic analysis and spinal and core assessments, which is just a fancy way of saying your muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons will be getting a closer look.

 

Your pain may not always be the source of your issue. For example, tight hamstrings can put more pressure on your back, causing it to get fatigued quicker than normal. Or, if your core muscles are weak, you might succumb to bad posture quicker and suffer from a stiff back.

When you do your assessment, you’ll be testing not only the strength of your muscles and tendons but also how balanced and flexible they are. Of course, the specific testing will depend on your location and intensity of pain, but we can promise, you’ll finish your appointment with a strong understanding of how your back is reacting to your daily habits.

 

The causes and effects of forward head posture

Bad Posture Auckland

We can all admit; forward head posture is one of the most challenging habits to break. As more and more industries turn to technology to operate, more and more people will be sitting behind desks, and in turn, more people will be at risk for chronic back pain.

 

The most challenging aspect of forward head posture is the fact that it doesn’t cause pain straight away. Instead, over time, you’ll be putting your body under increased stress which can affect everything from digestion to your heart, and very importantly, your spine. As the spine is home to your energy-demanding spinal cord, poor posture can increase the pressure on your entire nervous system, which will leave you feeling tired and in pain.

 

What to look for in a posture corrector program

 

Hopefully, now you’re convinced a posture corrector program could be an excellent fit for you. However, deciding which program makes the most sense for your life can be difficult. Here are a couple of things to look for when selecting:

  • It fits in with your lifestyle – first and foremost, you don’t want your program to feel like a chore. Make sure you choose a plan you can keep up with and matches up with your day-to-day life. The fastest way to recover from back pain is to get out there doing exercises you love, safely.
  • It is not a one-size-fits-all – as we’ve mentioned, everyone’s back pain experience is different. No two bodies will ever be identical, and therefore, no two programs should ever be the same. Make sure to choose a program that gives you personalised stretches and exercises and shows you how to do them correctly.
  • It is not a one-off appointment – a common mistake with managing back pain is the failure to change exercises. When you do the same core exercise for weeks on end, you’ll build up one area of muscles but may leave others behind. By choosing an ongoing program, you can ensure your exercises are evolving with you, and you’ll highly reduce the possibility of your back pain returning.

Ready to see if a posture assessment is right for you?

A simple consultation at Back Pain Auckland will answer your questions and set you on the path to eliminating back pain. With 18 years of back pain rehabilitation experience and many success stories, you’ll be in good hands to say goodbye to your back pain forever!