If your back hurts when you sit, you're not alone. Many people experience lower back pain from sitting at a desk all day or from driving for long periods. While you might feel like your body is resting because you are not on your feet, your spine would beg to differ. While you sit, almost every muscle in your body relaxes but the ones that stop you from falling forward or to the side. The result is that extra pressure is placed on your lumbar discs.
Up to 80 percent of people will suffer from pain in their lower back at one time during their adult lives. It is not uncommon for lower back pain to be caused by a herniated disc in the lumbar area. Also referred to as a “slipped disc,” this condition can cause the leg pain that is associated with sciatica.
When you have lower back pain, you might feel that the best thing you can do to reduce your pain is to rest. However, that will not put you on the best road to recovery. It is in your best interest to keep moving. It might seem counterintuitive to exercise, but it is one of the best things you can do to relieve your pain. By focusing on strengthening your core muscles, your lower back will benefit from added support, which will reduce your lower back pain.
Strengthening your core with exercise can prevent injuries that cause lower back pain from occurring. However, did you know that some of these exercises could also help heal and relieve your lower back pain? Having a strong core helps support the weight of your body and helps protect both your neck and back from having to pick up the slack if your core is weak. The muscles that are targeted in core strengthening exercises are located in your abdominal, back, and gluteal areas.
You have worked hard all your life. Now that you are retired, you have more time to devote to the activities you enjoy like golf, traveling or just keeping up with your grandkids. If you are experiencing lower back pain, you might not be enjoying your retirement as much as you had expected. Chronic back pain may hinder your ability to do the things you want to do.
More than half of Americans will experience sciatica in their lifetime. Usually occurring between the ages of 45 and 64, sciatica symptoms are characterized by low back pain that radiates into the legs and feet and is often accompanied by numbness and tingling in the feet and toes.
90% of sciatica cases are the result of a herniated disc in the lumbar spine, or lower back, that causes compression of the nerve root resulting in the odd symptoms such as the numb or tingling toes. Other risk factors for sciatica include excess body weight, height, mental stress, diabetes, prolonged sitting, smoking, and occupational factors such as driving and high physical activity such as bending and twisting.
A common symptom of lower back injury or strain is feeling pain when standing. You may be inclined to avoid standing or other physical activity; however, unless your doctor has recommended bed rest, you will want to try to continue some level of activity within reason. Becoming sedentary may work against you in your recovery because it could cause you to lose muscle tone and flexibility, which can make your lower back pain worsen.
Lower back pain can happen to anyone at any time regardless of age, level of activity or the type of work you do. The biggest risk factor for experiencing back pain is having a previous back injury that causes you to have chronic pain. However, there are certain risk factors that may make you more prone to experiencing this type of pain. Being aware of these factors could help you avoid some instances of lower back pain.
