Back Pain Got You? How To Ease Up On Your Workouts!
July 20th, 2009 | 
Author: 
You get plenty of rest. You try to eat right and you work out regularly. You’re proud of your efforts to live a healthy lifestyle and keep your body in good shape. So why, do you ask, does your back hurt? You suffer from soreness and stiffness in your lower back.
Your situation isn’t exceptional. Studies have indicated that four of five adults will experience lower back pain during their lives. You’ve missed work and had to suffer because of the lower back pain.
The back is a complex structure, with bones called lumbar vertebrae, which are held together with ligaments and muscles and surrounded by nerves, joints and disks. It’s no wonder that back pain is a source of suffering when you consider the back’s anatomy and the fact that it stabilizes and connects your chest and arms to your pelvis and legs.
Back pain normally falls into two categories: acute or chronic pain. Acute pain usually comes on suddenly, you’ve lifted something improperly or two quickly. Chronic pain occurs repeatedly and is aggravated by everyday demands on the back.
A major development of back pain can be traced to lifestyle factors. Overweight, smoking, sedentary lifestyle all may lead to a decrease in strength and elasticity of the muscles, bones and ligaments in the back, thereby increasing the risks of injuries that lead to back pain. Getting older can also contribute to back pain. As the disks dry out throughout life they do not remain stiff and stabilize the vertebrae during motions of the body or normal activities.
If you normally work out and you are experiencing lower back pain, you may think that skipping your workouts is the way to go. Although bed rest is often used as a treatment for lower back pain, if can be destructive to the muscles. Instead of avoiding exercise, talk to your health care provider and your trainer and get your exercises modified. Your new approach should help you avoid pain yet still get most of the benefits of the workout.
To prevent pain many experts recommend core training like Pilates. Anything that teaches you to stabilize your spine and pelvis will go a long way to prevent back injuries and back pain by increasing strength and flexibility. By being careful in taking steps to prevent and minimize pain it won’t be long before your normal workouts can be resumed. Take it slow and easy and you should be all right.
If you still experience back pain after home treatments and lighter workouts, you should seek the advice of a professional. Many cases of lower back pain are not serious and treatment is straightforward applying ice and heat and your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs or over the counter drugs such an ibuprofen. See your health professional in the event of regular or severe pain. Many times the doctor will prescribe a regime of physical therapy to increase flexibility and strength.
Back pain may slow you up but with the right approach it shouldn’t stop your workouts. When you feel better, plan on building more exercise into your workout plan that increases your core strength so you are less likely to have future back problems.
By: John Groth
About the Author:
Posted in Back Pain