For the interesting facts found in this article I am about to share with you, we’ll go along with the author’s title, however please remember that if you do experience back pain at any time in your life, catch yourself when you’re actually saying such powerful words in relation to your physical pain, such as the one above, and try to replace that negative thought or phrase with a positive one.
Check out our Affirmations under Self-Coaching for help with this!
Here’s a great article written by Ted Spiker for AARP magazine.
1. You’re feeling down.
The blues and more serious mood disorders such as depression can translate into pain in other parts of the body. Researchers from the University of Sydney found that people who had symptoms of depression had 60% greater incidence of back pain compared with those who were not depressed.
Although the link between back pain and depression isn’t clear, one theory is that people who are depressed are less likely to exercise and more likely to have disturbed sleep , both of which contribute to back pain.
The FIX: See a therapist, who can help you manage your low moods. This, in turn, could help your back pain subside.
2. You have tight hips.
A lifetime of sitting steadily decreases hip mobility by thickening the fibrous tissue encasing your joints. This puts extra strain on your lower back, and inflammation from arthritis can make the situation even worse. Plus, if you lean forward when you sit, as most of us do while we’re at the computer, you’re putting almost double the amount of force on your spine, compared with standing, says Alan Hedge , director of Human factors and ergonomics research laboratory at Cornell University.
The FIX: Loosen up your hips with a classic frog pose. With your knees on the floor, spread your legs apart as far as you can. Then roll your upper body forward so your elbows and forearms are on the floor.
3. You’re heavy in the front.
You probably know that being overweight can contribute to back pain, but the location of the pounds makes a difference too, says Kevin Vincent, MD, of the University of Florida. Extra weight in your gut tilts your pelvis and increases the curve of your spine. “The spine’s joints are pushed and under stress” he says, “They compress together”.
The FIX: Exercise both the large and small muscles in your lower back. Lunges, for example, not only force you to use small muscles in your lower back that provide balance; they also target your glutes- the big muscles in your behind that help control your spine and back. Losing that excess weight is also smart: “if you lose weight, the back pain gets better” Vincent says.
4. You’re on the phone—all the time.
Having a strong social network is a sign of good health, but if you’re on the phone too much, you could be putting your back at risk. That’s because bending your neck to read or text can put an extra 60 pounds of force on your spine, says Ken Hansraj, chief of spine surgery & Rehab medicine in Poughkeepsie. Combing this poor posture with the common arthritic buildup or de-generation in your spine’s discs can result in back pain.
The FIX: Keep your head up and eyes looking down. “Good posture is where you bring your ears above you shoulders and open up your chest by retracting your angel wings— your scapula.” Hansraj says. Better still? Use headphones with a built in microphone so you don’t have to bend your neck.
5. You have bad feet.
The body’s systems and organs are linked by what physiologists call the kinetic chain, which works as you’d expect: a weak link anywhere in that chain can create problems elsewhere
For instance, if you have plantar fasciitis (pain in the heels or the bottom of the feet), it can cause a subtle limp that can throw off your gait enough to cause back pain.
The FIX: Any pain that affects your gait- arthritis in a knee, a twisted ankle- should be checked out, not only to solve that issue but to prevent collateral damage too.