“Like this post? Please Share it with your friends, Click on the links above.”
(678) 445-2746
Common Causes of Low Back Pain:
Low back pain is one of the main complaints that send people into our office. At some point most people will experience low back pain. According to the American Chiropractic Association about 31 million Americans experience low back pain on a regular basis. Additionally, chronic low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Here are the most common causes of low back pain:
Automobile Injuries
Automobile accidents can produce a tremendous amount of force that can damage your lower back. While whiplash is another common auto injury, the low back is also affected by the jerking motion, which can damage the spinal discs and joints. The trauma of an accident can cause herniated and bulging discs, a painful condition that occurs when the soft center of a spinal disc pushes out through a crack in the disc’s tough exterior. The pain ranges from mild to excruciating, often leading to issues with the sciatic nerve which creates intense pain that radiates from the sacrum, under the buttocks, and down through the hip into the leg and foot. It’s best to seek medical treatment right away after an automobile accident. The sooner you receive treatment the shorter the recovery.
Sports Injuries
People who participate in active physical activities are at a higher risk for suffering a back injury that can lead to acute or chronic lower back pain. Whether it’s weight lifting, running, cycling, football tennis, wrestling or even golf, these activities can place a great deal of stress on the spine and low back. These activities often involve turning, twisting and bending, all of which can cause a muscle strain or ligament sprain. Although living an active lifestyle is incredibly healthy, it’s important to know your limits. Pay attention to your body. Warm up and stretch before any strenuous activity, and be sure to stay hydrated, as water replenishes your cells and muscles. Icing your back after physical activity will help decrease inflammation and soreness.
Prolonged Sitting:
Sitting at a desk or in a car for extended periods of time places a lot of stress on your lumbar spine that causes back soreness and stiffness and pain. Remaining in the same seated position causes strain on the nerves, which leads to pain in the lower back that can travel down the legs and feet. Try to sit up straight, take breaks every hour and walk around. Drink water to hydrate and stretch throughout the day – this is good advice for long car rides too. The worst position for someone that has low back pain is to sit for long periods of time. One note that we tell our patients is for men: do not sit on your wallet. This causes you to sit in an uneven position for your spine and can contribute to your low back pain.
Stretching Exercises:
Stretching the ham strings, hip flexors (the area where the front of the thigh meets the groin area) and the piriformis muscle (the gluteal area) really helps loosen the tight muscles that can cause misalignment in the low back area. Lying flat on your back is the best position to be in if you have a flair up of low back pain.
At Abundant Health & Wellness Center we check to see what is contributing to your low back pain. It can be lifestyle, stress and of course subluxations in the spine that need to be corrected. We use a holistic approach as well as some kinesiology based techniques to help determine the best course of action for you as an individual.
If you have any questions or would like to set up a FREE consultation please don’t hesitate to call. It is no fun being in pain and there are a lot of solutions that maybe you haven’t tried before.
Call Our Office to Schedule an Appointment Today.
(678) 445-2746
Dr. Chris Ambrosio D.C.
Abundant Health & Wellness Center Inc.
www.woodstockgeorgiachiropractor.com
