BACK PAIN ……What is BACK pain ?
Back pain can occur at any point of the spine, and is characterized by a range of symptoms including pain, muscle tension or stiffness, weakness in the legs or feet, and a possible tingling or burning sensation, often traveling down the legs (sciatica). It is often caused by stresses on the muscles and ligaments that support the spine. Thus, the most common site affected is the lower back because it bears the most weight and physical stress.
The cause of back pain, however, is not always apparent;in fact, in approximately 85% to 90% of individuals with back pain, no specific cause can be identified.
Contributing factors include poor muscle tone, especially in the back and abdominal muscles; sedentary lifestyle; obesity; smoking; poor posture; and in particular, improper heavy lifting.
Back pain can interfere with our social lives and activities . A big cause of concern is that the activity will increase the pain or cause further injury. Stiffness and tension are also commonly experienced. While there can be considerable variation in the underlying causes of both back (i.e., bio-mechanical, degenerative disc disease, etc.), the ultimate consequences for functional health are similar , therefore, BACK PAIN considerably impacts the activities of daily living, regardless of its actual cause.
SOLUTION :
CORE PERFORMANCE : THE ULTIMATE BACK HEALTH SOLUTION
Treatment is aimed at alleviating pain and restoring proper function and strength to the back. Bed rest for the first one or two days will reduce the symptoms, and applying heat or ice to the affected area will improve blood flow, reducing inflammation. Resuming normal activities as soon as possible is regarded as the best way to cope with the pain as it will prevent stiffness and keep the back flexible and strong BUT this is no guarantee the the root problem is addressed.
CORE PERFORMANCE : THE ULTIMATE BACK HEALTH SOLUTION
What are your core muscles?
Your “core” is a word that is used a lot these days without really any understanding of the muscles involved and how to use them. Today I want to explain which muscles make up your core, where in the body they are found and how they are, or rather should, be used.
When most people talk about the core they are mainly referring to the stomach muscles which
although not wrong does not give the complete picture. For example there are many pieces of equipment out there that help to strengthen your stomach muscles and as part of their advertising they will talk about “building a stronger core.” This is partly true, but basically this is only building your abs but not the entire core.
The Importance of a Strong Core
When we talk about the core we are grouping different muscles together and it is these muscles that make a strong connection between our lower and upper body, the “core”. Having a strong core will make our bodies more resilient to the external forces that are applied to our bodies daily. For example even pushing open or pulling open a door requires some core strength otherwise as our hand met with the door our upper body will collapse. We should think of the core as a unit working together to assist us our daily physical activities (lifting a bag of groceries, moving furniture, gardening or evening lifting up baby). Without good core strength we leave ourselves open to serious injury leaving our spines unprotected.
Stay tuned ……….