If you currently suffer from back pain, you are not alone. According to The Medical Journal of Australia, up to 80% of Australians will experience back pain at some stage in their lives, and 10% will have significant disabilities as a result of their pain.
Damian Hoy, a senior research fellow at the University of Queensland’s School of Population Health, says: “Low back pain in particular, is something that almost all people experience at some point in their lives. It is common across sexes, age groups, countries, socioeconomic groups, education levels and occupation.”
The causes of back pain are not confined to individual events, such as straining your back lifting. Activities that can trigger back pain include not stretching, years of wear and tear or even aspects of your lifestyle, such as smoking or being stressed. Find out more about back pain as you age here..
Weight:
Your weight plays an important role in back pain prevention. Being overweight, especially in the mid-section, pulls the pelvis forward, straining the lower back which can be a cause of lower back pain. People with excess weight may also experience sciatica and low back pain from a herniated disc or from a pinched nerve if the discs have been damaged from compensating for the extra weight.
Posture:
Posture affects every area of your daily life and is the key to preventing back pain. Thus requires a conscious effort and commitment to maintain your posture during the day.
Stress:
Mental and emotional stress can be damaging to your back and can set you up for a serious back injury if left untreated. Stress affects our natural ability to relax and the body becomes chronically tense in preparation for a real or perceived stressful event. This can then generate significant muscle tightness in the lower back which occurs as the body tries to stabilise the spine.
Lifting techniques:
Proper lifting is important to ensure you are able to move or carry something safely without back pain. Improper lifting can lead to back, leg and arm pain and also cause both acute injury, and serious chronic effects.
Smoking:
Smokers are three times more likely to develop lower back pain than non-smokers. The nicotine in cigarettes causes thickening of the walls in the blood vessels which then circulate the flow of blood to the muscles that protect the vertebrae, nerves and discs.
There are almost as many ways to prevent back pain as there are bad behaviours that cause it. Here are 7 ways to relieve back pain and stop it returning. If you make these suggestions part of your everyday routine, your back should be strong and healthy.
We recommend consulting with a health professional such as a physiotherapist to determine what is causing your back problems so you can work together to find a suitable solution.
Sleepmaker offer a range of the best mattresses designed to support your back and body, to help prevent back pain. These beds are designed to provide you the best pressure relief for your joints and back, as well as the most cutting-edge cooling technology, so you can sleep soundly every night. Our Performance Mattresses provide far more than alternatives like a basic mattress in a box or less expensive foam mattresses. They are available with pocket springs, ActiveSence, and even the renowned Australian SleepMaker Miracoil.
