Low Back Pain Treatment

It has been stated by a widely publicized study that four out of five individuals will suffer low back pain at some point in their lives. The condition affects both men and women, generally occurring between ages 30 and 50.

The findings of several studies point to the aging process as a key contributive factor in the development of low back pain between these ages. However, the condition has also been found to occur as a result of sedentary lifestyles with too little exercise, or too much exercise which the body is not habituated to.

But while low back pain can be a source of anxiety and great discomfort for the affected person, much of the low back treatment options currently available do not necessarily include surgery. Actually, the most common low back treatments in use today do not involve surgery at all.

Analgesics, reducing inflammation, preventing recurrence of episodes, restoring proper function and strength to the back, among others are the focus of most low back pain treatment methods.

Exercise

This one way to keep active even while recovering from back pain. This low back pain treatment method will not only speed up recovery for low back pain people but will also help strengthen back and abdominal muscles.

For a list of gentle exercises that will help you keep your muscles moving and flexible without exerting too much strain, consult your doctor or therapist. There will most likely be mild discomfort in the beginning of the exercises.

However, as your body gradually becomes habituated to the activity, the discomfort will disappear. Building and maintaining muscle strength through this low back pain treatment method is particularly significant for those suffering from skeletal irregularities.

Exercise Balls

Stretching is another low back pain treatment option. One way to get a good stretch is with an exercise ball. Many people like these because you can stretch your back without straining it and other muscles.

Exercise ball stretching helps strengthen your core muscles, including your back. If you are new to the exercise ball, chose one that is soft and not 100% inflated. These are just a little bit easier to work on than hard balls.

As with other stretches, do these exercise ball stretches slowly and smoothly, hold for about ten seconds (longer if you can), and repeat ten times.

• Back Arch: Sit on the ball as if it is a chair. Walk your feet forward so that the ball rolls under your back until your rear end is on the ground. Place your hands behind your head and slowly push yourself back up so that you roll backwards over the ball.
• Back Floor Press: Lie on the floor with the ball under your knees and legs over it. Arms should be resting at your sides. Pull your belly button towards your spine and hold. Remember to keep the rest of your muscles relaxed. As you get more comfortable with this exercise, you can do it while lifting your arms a few inches off the floor, as in the pilates Hundred.
• Ball Squats: Stand with ball between your back and a wall, with feet hip width apart. Keeping your back straight, bend knees until they at ninety degrees and thighs are parallel to the floor. The exercise ball will roll up your back. Hold and return to starting position.

Bed Rest

This form of low back pain treatment should only be done for a period of one to two days at most. In a study conducted by Finnish scientists in 1996, it was found that persons who continued their activities without bed rest after an episode of low back pain appeared to have better flexibility than those who stayed in bed for a week.

Several studies seem to correlate these findings as they observed that too much bed rest may make back pain worse or cause other complications, such as depression, decreased muscle tone, and blood clots in the legs.

Ice/Heat Packs

The application of ice or heat packs/compresses as a method of low back pain treatment has never been scientifically proven. Even so, it remains the most common quick fix for low back pain.

Following trauma, patients apply these compresses to the affected area to help reduce pain and inflammation and allow greater mobility.

Suggested Steps:

• Apply ice or cold compress first to the injured area. Keep the compress on for up to 20 minutes several times a day.
• After 2-3 days, apply heat compress for brief periods. This will help relax the muscles and improve blood flow.