Back Injury

Lower back pain is the most common symptom of a Back Injury. It can range from a constant dull ache to a sharp shooting pain. Acute Back Injury can occur from lifting objects incorrectly or from a fall or accident. Chronic Back Injury develops slowly usually due to age related spine changes or to bad posture. Back Injury is very common and four out of five adults will experience significant back pain sometime during their life.

Factors that effect the likelihood of incurring a Back Injury include age, fitness level, diet, presence of other diseases, occupation and smoking. In order to prevent Back Injury it is important to keep your back and abdominal muscles strong. This can be achieved through targeted exercises. Its also important to maintain a healthy weight as obesity puts extra strain on the spine and leads to spine injury . A healthy diet that is rich in calcium and vitamin D will also help you avoid back injury. Calcium is found in dairy products an green, leafy vegetables and your skin makes vitamin D when you are in the sun.

On most occasions a Back Injury can be treated with the correct care. Consult a doctor, physiotherapist, osteopath or chiropractor for suitable back treatment options. Most low back pain can almost always be treated without surgery. During an examination by such a professional you may be required to get X-rays taken to see the extent of the damage. Although a limited period of rest may be helpful in most cases it is important to keep up light activity such as stretching or walking as it has been shown that this helps to improve recovery.

Once the back pain has lessened its a good idea to begin some kind of rehabilitation program to regain muscle strength and avoid re-aggrevating your Back Injury.  Learn about the correct lifting techniques and make sure you ask for help if an object is too heavy or difficult to lift on your own. Avoid smoking and try to maintain a proper posture when standing and sitting.