Back pain is one of the most common medical problems, affecting 8 out of 10 people at some point during their lives. Back pain is not a diagnosis -- it's a symptom of an underlying condition. Back pain is a common problem often caused by overusing or misusing the muscles of the back. Back pain can be a sign of a serious medical problem, although this is not most frequently the underlying cause. Typical warning signs of a potentially life-threatening problem are bowel and/or bladder incontinence or progressive weakness in the legs.

The Spine

Your spine is a very strong part of your body and is not easily damaged. It is a complex structure consisting of 24 small bones (vertebrae),shock absorbing discs (intervertebral discs) that cushion the bones and allow the spine to bend, ligaments to hold vertebrae and discs together, tendons to connect muscles to vertebrae, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles.

Weight:

If you are overweight you should consider a weight-reducing diet because of the extra strain that your weight puts on your leg joints and back. You will also be advised to stop smoking (as this may be an independent cause of back pain), so you should take extra care to prevent the weight gain that often follows.

Problems During Pregnancy:

Potential causes of back pain or discomfort during pregnancy include hormone changes. Hormones released during pregnancy allow ligaments in the pelvic area to soften and the joints to become looser in preparation for the birthing process of your baby; this shift in joints and loosening of ligaments may affect the support your back normally experiences.

Relief:

Inversion therapy is useful for temporary back relief due to the traction method or spreading of the back vertebrae through (in this case) gravity. The best position for relief when your back hurts is to lie on your back on the floor with pillows under your knees, with your hips and knees bent and your feet on a chair, or just with your hips and knees bent.

Possible treatments:

Treatment options range from basic rest, ice or heat and gradually resuming activity to medication, exercise, physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, acupuncture and surgery. Not all treatments work for all conditions or for all individuals with the same condition, and many find that they need to try several treatment options to determine what works best for them.

Therapy Solutions:

Massage therapy, especially from an experienced therapist, may help. Body Awareness Therapy such as the Feldenkrais Method has been studied in relation to Fibromyalgia and chronic pain and studies have indicated positive effects. In one study, chiropractic manipulation was found to relieve back pain better than a sham therapy in which therapists only imitated chiropractic manipulation.

Benefits of Exercise:

Exercise may be the most effective way to speed recovery from back pain and help strengthen back and abdominal muscles. Continue with normal activities as far as possible. In almost all cases, physical therapy and/or a regular exercise program that includes stretching, strengthening and low impact cardio conditioning will be part of the treatment and rehabilitation program.