Seven risk factors for lower back pain

Seven risk factors for lower back pain

SAN RAMON, CA – Low back pain affects millions of people every day. Most will see their GP, who will usually prescribe pain relievers, anti-inflammatories and perhaps muscle relaxants. Some will call their local chiropractor and get chiropractic treatment. And then some will try to manage their bread on their own.

The medical literature is full of case studies on low back pain. Why some people develop it while others don’t is still open to discussion. There are some risk factors associated with low back pain:

1. Obesity or gradual weight gain in the abdomen

2. Excessively sedentary lifestyle

3. History of lower back injury

4. Type A Personality

5. smoker

6. History of sports practice

7. Long chest

If you fall into one or more of these categories, you are at high risk of developing low back pain. Let’s review the reasoning:

obesity— when you stopped growing, around the age of 20, your skeleton stopped growing. His long bones and vertebrae settled down to a size sufficient to support a naturally lean body weight. Now the only way to gain weight after you stop growing is to get fat or get pregnant. If fat settles in your abdomen, it moves your stomach’s center of gravity forward and pushes your lower spine forward in the process. The extra weight compresses the cartilage (discs) in the spine, as well as in the hips, knees, and ankles. Over time, it will cause the cartilage to develop cracks. The increased pressure and spinal arch jam the posterior vertebral joints (facet joints), making the vertebrae less mobile. This causes the muscles around the spine to atrophy or weaken. Final score: low back pain and stiffness.

Excessively sedentary lifestyle. Many of those who work at a desk most of the day fall into this category. You need to move your spine often to keep your spinal discs hydrated and healthy, and to keep your spinal muscles trained and toned so it can support your spine from behind, sides, and front. Sitting and not exercising leads to weak discs and back muscles, which can lead to pain.

History of lumbar injury. If you hurt your back during high school or college, it may have healed. But the healed tissue has scar tissue mixed in. Scar tissue is what your body uses to close torn muscle, tendon, and ligament tissue. Scar tissue is not as strong or elastic as normal tissue, so if a previously injured area is subjected to heavy loading or sometimes sudden movement, it can be re-injured. And this time, since you are older, it may not heal as quickly as before and may even become chronic (permanent).

Type A personality This means that he is frequently under stress, aggressive, and always “on the go.” Type A personalities have a hard time relaxing. Studies show that this can increase your heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol (stress hormone) levels. These physiological changes are not conducive to a healthy back.

smokers. Smoking deprives the tissues of oxygen supply. If your work puts a lot of force on your back, the cells that make up your discs, muscles, ligaments and tendons need oxygen as your metabolic rate increases. Limited oxygen will make these structures prone to injury. Additionally, cigarette smoke contains at least ten known carcinogens.

history of sports. Not much of a surprise here. Any sport that requires jumping and landing will take a tremendous toll on the spine. The spine IS designed to handle such activity, but only up to a point. 4-6 years of this can overwhelm the body’s engineering and cause a breakdown in cartilage and bone.

long chest People with an elongated upper body are often more prone to low back pain. The reason is that a long torso means a long spine. With the head at the end of the column (a weight of 10 to 12 pounds) a lever arm is created. Gravity tends to pull your head forward, so if you have a long torso, more force (a larger lever arm) will be required from your lower back muscles to stand or sit upright. To help visualize this, imagine yourself holding a stick with a 10-pound shot attached to the end, then tilting it slightly forward. You will notice the force necessary to maintain it. Now, imagine holding a broomstick-sized stick with a 10-pound bullet attached to it – you won’t be able to hold it due to the much greater force created.

If you are aware of these risk factors, you can take immediate steps to help reduce your chances of developing low back pain.

Dan Perez, D.C.

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