Exercises for Lower Back Pain Relief

Believe it or not, one of the most common causes of lower back pain is slouching. Because so many of us work at desks hunched over our computers for 40 hours a week, it is no surprise that people are reporting lower back pain in record numbers. Often, the cause of the pain proves allusive, possibly because the cause is so simple were all slouching!

These simple exercises can be done almost anywhere and will provide immediate relief of back pain associated with poor posture. If you have ever felt the need to stand and arch your back after sitting for an extended period of time, then you understand the concept. The pain in your back is from too much flexion (slouching), so exercises that move it in the opposite direction (extension exercises) are most helpful.

To begin, stand with your feet a shoulder width apart, with your hands on your lower back, fingers pointing downward. Bend backward from your waist as far as you can without bending your knees. Hold for about 5 seconds, then repeat. Doing this exercise occasionally throughout the day will you avoid pain from sitting at your desk.

For the next exercise, you will need to lie on your stomach, on the floor, and slowly rise up on your elbows, arching your back. Keeping your hips on the floor, relax your lower back and hold the position for 30 seconds. Repeat, and keep in mind that your goal should be to eventually be able to hold the position for 5 full minutes.

Otherwise, the best thing you can do to relieve your back pain is heed moms age-old advice Stop Slouching!

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Back Pain Facts?

There are several causes of back pain: mechanical causes, eg lumbar disc disorders; degenerative conditions, eg degenerative disc disease; inflammatory conditions, eg ankylosing spondylitis; infective causes, eg osteomyelitis; neoplastic causes, eg primary benign or malignant tumours; metabolic bone disease, eg osteoporosis; referred pain, eg from duodenal ulcer; psychogenic pain - originating in the mind rather than the body.

Back pain is one of humanity's most frequent complaints and does not usually reflect any underlying disease. However, anyone with back pain that does not improve after a few days should first consult a Physician, as back pain can sometimes indicate significant and serious conditions which might not otherwise be diagnosed. Back pain is very rarely a sign of a serious medical problem. It is however important that the treatable medical causes are identified early on.

Back pain affects 50 to 80 percent of people in the U.S. at some point in their lives. In any given year, 10 percent of adults experience back pain or other symptoms, such as limited mobility or stiffness. Each year, Americans spend an estimated $24 billion on treatments for back pain - not including missed time from work nor the emotional costs of enduring pain and not being able to participate in daily activities. Imagine what it would be like to have problems working, golfing or enjoying playtime with children!

Back pain can be mildly uncomfortable, excruciating or anywhere in between. It can start slowly, sometimes a result of poor posture, or come on suddenly because of injury. If your question is not answered here, please contact one of our information specialists. Back pain can last for a few short days or can linger for weeks, months and even years. Arthritis is a common form of back pain. The earlier arthritis is diagnosed, the more steps can be taken to reduce disability in the future. Other factors that aggravate back pain include suffering from stress, not getting enough sleep, being overweight, having poor posture or not being physically fit.

Back pain should not be considered a normal part of aging; it is a chronic condition that calls for similar lifestyle changes as diseases like arthritis and diabetes do.