Back Pain

Back Pain

The most common cause for back pain is a pulled back muscle, which often occurs in the lower back area. The term pulling a muscle means overstretched the muscle past its normal ability and caused it to become injured. When this happens you can expect immediate pain, it will not start gradually and increase in severity over time.

Causes of a Strained Back

Pulled back muscles generally occur when your back is overloaded, so if you where to lift an object that is either too heavy or awkward. This is why you must always used proper lifting techniques or do not attempt to lift these objects on your own. These muscles are also at an increased risk of injury if they are weakened due to inactivity, age, or illness.

Diagnosis

A strained back should generally resolve itself within 2 weeks time as long as you modify your daily activities so that you do not aggravate it in anyway. If you are still feeling back pain after this time or if your pain is increasing you should contact your doctor as it may be something more serious in nature.

Strained Back Treatment Options

For a strained back muscle the best thing you can do is rest it while it heals. What you should be looking at is how to prevent this in the future.

Bad posture is a huge contributor to back pain, Important tips to follow in daily activity.

  • That you use a chair that offers good back support and allows you to sit straight and keep your feet flat on the floor.
  • If you are working in an office you will want to make sure that your feet are resting comfortably on the floor and if your legs are to short you are using a stool or adjustable chair.
  • That you take a break every hour or so to get up and stretch your legs and allow your eyes to view something other than the computer screen.
  • That your monitor is eye level so that you do not have to bend your neck in any way to view it.
  • If your work requires you to stand for long periods of time that you are not standing on a hard or unyielding material. And if at all possible have a place where you can keep one leg higher than the other for a period of time, a small foot stool being the most convenient.
  • If you work in a field that requires heavy lifting that there are machines to help do most of the work so you do not have to lift any of these objects yourself.

By keeping your back healthy and strong with exercises and stretches as well as keeping good posture you can limit your risk of pulling a back muscle.

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