Back pain – Affecting factors and home remedies

The back is the workhorse of the human body. It carries the load of the entire body and is responsible for almost every movement you make. Back pain can be seen in people of any age, however, it is more common in middle-aged people. Back pain can occur after a specific movement, such as lifting or bending, and just getting older.

Factors that affect back pain:

Incorrect Posture – Incorrect posture when sitting, standing too much, walking and sleeping contribute to back pain. Sitting in a chair in an inappropriate or uncomfortable position for a long time or driving for a long time every day can cause chronic back pain in people.

Injury:

Injury is a common cause of back pain. Sudden movement, lifting, bending, etc., can cause strain on muscles or ligaments and lead to injury. On the other hand, trauma caused by a fall, accident to the back can cause severe and sudden back pain.

obesity:

People who are overweight have a much higher risk of back and spinal pain. In obese people, the amount of weight puts more pressure on the spine, resulting in conditions such as osteoarthritis.

Sprains and fractures:

Sprains and fractures can occur in the back vertebrae due to sports injuries or falls. However, both are much more serious and can often lead to chronic back pain.

Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints, causing pain in the neck or back that mainly involves the degradation of the joints. It results in the breakdown of cartilage in the joints and commonly occurs in the weight-bearing joints of the hips, knees, and spine.

Spinal stenosis: Spinal stenosis is one of the most common causes of acute back pain in people over 50 years of age. It occurs as a result of constriction of the space surrounding the spinal cord or spinal nerves.

Pregnancy: Pregnancy is one of the common causes of back pain in women. During pregnancy, a woman’s weight increases considerably, resulting in increased pressure on the back.

Home remedies for back pain:

There are various home remedies that can be used to relieve the pain. Some of the home remedies are

Posture: Sitting with correct posture helps reduce back pain, so always have good back support when you sit. Sit up straight and without slouching.

Ice packs: Ice pack can be used for pain relief. Apply an ice pack to an affected area for up to 20 minutes and it acts like an anesthetic and gives you quick relief. After a while, if you don’t feel better and the pain continues, you can gently dab an ice pack on the affected area.

Rest: Rest is one of the best home remedies that can be followed to relieve back pain. If possible, make sure to lie down in a comfortable position and rest.

Exercises: Do simple and easy exercises like stretching and ball exercises for 20 to 30 minutes that relax your muscles and back. However, be sure to perform these exercises under the supervision of a physical therapist.

Yoga: Research shows that yoga for back pain is a safe and effective way. Some of the yoga poses like locust pose, corpse pose, plow pose, cobra pose, and raised feet pose are very beneficial in relieving pain.

If the pain in the back is intense it should not be ignored, if it persists for more than a couple of hours, a doctor should be consulted immediately.