Working From Home? Keep Sore Back, Neck And Shoulder Pain At Bay With Yoga
Yoga Instructor shares a list of simple yoga postures that will spring your back into action again.
Backache refers to pain in the back that arises from muscles, joints, nerves or other structures in the spine. Backache is the most common problem that affects most people who work sitting at one place. Because of lack of movement and stretching and some other reasons like improper posture, hunching and twisting, the back muscles become stiffed or tensed. Pain can either radiate from the upper region to lower back or may be specific to certain points along the spine. Backache can become really irritating when the pain is constant irrespective of movement and sufficient rest. Generally, backache that is not caused by a serious condition gets better within 12 weeks with proper exercise, topical gels, sprays and corrective measures for posture. Prolonged backache may be due to a serious condition like slipped disc. In this section, you will find tips to prevent back pain, certain yoga exercises like surya namaskar for relieving back pain, tips to live with chronic back pain, etc. You can also find detailed information on what exactly causes chronic pains, treatment and surgeries for back pain and a guide on lower back pain.
The human back is made of a number of elements – vertebrae, muscles, nerves, intervertebral discs and the spinal column. When either one of these components is injured, strained or is out of alignment it leads to back pain. Often in the case of a back pain the pain can radiate to other adjoining areas like the abdomen, flanks, down the legs or around the buttocks. In cases where the back pain is higher up, (just below the neck) it can lead to pain down the arms and in the shoulders. Here are few common causes of back pain you might not know about.
The most common reasons for a back pain is usually bad posture, abrupt or awkward movements, lifting things with bad posture, straining your back, etc. But apart from that, there are some conditions that can lead to back pain. Some of them are:
Ruptured disk: This is a condition where the intervertibral disk gets ruptured or torn due to strain or injury. When this disk (that cushions the area between the vertebrae) is injured in any way it can put pressure in the nerves leading to back pain.
Bulging disk: This is where the disc has been compressed and bulges leading to a compression of nerves.
Sciatica: This is a condition where the patient experiences a sharp shooting pain down the back and buttocks. Read more about sciatica.
Arthritis: In people with arthritis, their bones are already a little brittle and in a state of degeneration. It is commonly seem that those suffering from osteoarthritis commonly suffer from back pain.
Abnormal curvature of the spine: This is where the spinal column, instead of being straight is curved in either direction. One condition where an abnormal curvature of the spine is seen is scoliosis.
Osteoporosis: Also known as brittle bone disease, this condition can also lead to a back pain.
Cauda equina syndrome: This is a condition where the spinal nerves form a bundle at the base of the spine. This condition leads to pain, tingling and in some cases numbness down the buttocks and spine.
Apart from these other conditions like cancer of the spine, infections of the spine, pelvic inflammatory disease, shingles and a bad mattress can all lead to a back pain.
Women and pregnant women – These people are most likely to suffer from back pain. This is usually due to a change in posture and excessive pressure on the back.
Old age is also another factor – As people age their bones and muscles tend to become weaker and more worn out, leading to back pain.
Obesity – People who are obese usually suffer from this condition due to the fact that their weight puts a lot of pressure on the area. Another reason for this is that obesity also leads to a drastic alteration in one’s hormonal levels; which might sometimes lead to leeching of bone mass making them brittle and more prone to displacement and pain.
A sedentary lifestyle – When you don’t exercise or sit for long periods of time, the back becomes inactive and increasingly weak. This can also lead to back pain.
Strenuous physical activity – This is observed among people who do strenuous activities repeatedly that require bending at the back. The repeated action and constant wear and tear of the back can lead to back pain. Apart from that doing an activity improperly can also lead to the same symptom. For example, bending to pick up a heavy object.
Anxiety and depression – According to a study published in the Spine Journal, anxiety and depression was linked to back pain. Although the exact reason for this bizarre correlation is still to be studied, the researchers found that people with depression and anxiety reported more incidences of back pain.
The most obvious symptom is back pain , but along with that there are symptoms like tingling down the arms or legs, pain radiating to the front of the body, numbness down the buttocks or legs, weakness of the legs or hands, inability to grip properly and bend or look around also could be symptoms of something more serious.
The diagnosis of the reason for a back pain usually involves a physical examination, MRI, X-ray or CT scan (depending on the structure that is thought to be causing the pain).
In severe cases a bone scan and EMG may be required. While a bone scan checks for the strength of the bone’s involved the EMG scan (Electromyography) involves testing for function of the nerves around the area.
The treatment for a back is usually based on the cause for the condition. In some case you may be required to take painkillers or NSAID (non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) to help with the pain.
Other treatment modalities include surgery which is mainly done to correct the defect causing the pain. Apart from that you also may be advised to get physiotherapy to help heal an injured back.
The prevention of a back pain is fairly simple. Here are some methods:
Yoga Instructor shares a list of simple yoga postures that will spring your back into action again.
Sitting for extended periods can be as dangerous as smoking as far as your health is concerned. It can put you at risk of serious health disorders.
Polycystic kidney disease can be painful and cause severe complications. Now a new study has uncovered a previously unrecognised mechanism that may accelerate this condition.
According to recent research, cell phone addiction can give us horns. But it can also give you a new-age condition known as text neck syndrome.
Here we give you a wonderful way to celebrate International Yoga Day with 10 Yoga poses that actually work for losing weight and also provide other health benefits.
As we start the celebration of the Global Employee Health and Fitness Month today, we share a list light stretches that you can perform at your office desk to ease your aching back and neck.
Your sex life may just be a victim of these underlying health conditions.
If you use your computer every day, this could mean serious trouble for your spine, back and neck over time.
Be it acute or chronic, your body ache can limit your movement and day-to-day functioning. Know the the underlying causes behind your consistent pain and get them fixed.
Dr Sejal Mistry, National Clinical Expert, QI Spine Clinic, suggests you some vital tricks to get rid of your back pain.
Your spine acts to stabilize, protect and allow movement. It is, therefore, important to reduce physical and emotional distress. A healthy posture, diet and staying active is the key to a healthy spine.
It doesn't matter how old the teachers are or which grades or subjects they teach, the job of every teacher is strenuous -- not just physically but also mentally. This is why teachers need to be extra cautious about their health.
One of the most technologically advanced hospitals in the country, Apollo hospitals has launched Mazor robotic spine surgery system for patients requiring spinal operation.
Please follow these tips to change your posture before it's too late.
A session of Hot Stone Massage can relax your muscles and joints, soothe your nerves and ensure sound sleep.
Hiral Shah lists out 3 yoga postures to help you keep your spine in top shape.
Here are 2 yoga asanas you must do for your back.
A good posture indicates one's inner well-being.
Yoga Instructor shares a list of simple yoga postures that will spring your back into action again.
Sitting for extended periods can be as dangerous as smoking as far as your health is concerned. It can put you at risk of serious health disorders.
Polycystic kidney disease can be painful and cause severe complications. Now a new study has uncovered a previously unrecognised mechanism that may accelerate this condition.
According to recent research, cell phone addiction can give us horns. But it can also give you a new-age condition known as text neck syndrome.
As we start the celebration of the Global Employee Health and Fitness Month today, we share a list light stretches that you can perform at your office desk to ease your aching back and neck.
If you use your computer every day, this could mean serious trouble for your spine, back and neck over time.
Be it acute or chronic, your body ache can limit your movement and day-to-day functioning. Know the the underlying causes behind your consistent pain and get them fixed.
Dr Sejal Mistry, National Clinical Expert, QI Spine Clinic, suggests you some vital tricks to get rid of your back pain.
Your spine acts to stabilize, protect and allow movement. It is, therefore, important to reduce physical and emotional distress. A healthy posture, diet and staying active is the key to a healthy spine.
It doesn't matter how old the teachers are or which grades or subjects they teach, the job of every teacher is strenuous -- not just physically but also mentally. This is why teachers need to be extra cautious about their health.
One of the most technologically advanced hospitals in the country, Apollo hospitals has launched Mazor robotic spine surgery system for patients requiring spinal operation.
Please follow these tips to change your posture before it's too late.
A session of Hot Stone Massage can relax your muscles and joints, soothe your nerves and ensure sound sleep.
Hiral Shah lists out 3 yoga postures to help you keep your spine in top shape.
Here are 2 yoga asanas you must do for your back.
A good posture indicates one's inner well-being.
Ankita Ghag, Clinical nutritionist, Vacchan Aarogya and InBody lists out dos and dont's.
In case of kids, carrying a heavy backpack, improper sleeping pattern, athletic injuries, etc. can be some common causes for the back pain.
Your sex life may just be a victim of these underlying health conditions.
Check your privates regularly for these symptoms. Testicular cancer is often diagnosed late due to lack of awareness.
Household products could be the reason why you have constant backache.
Lower back hurting a lot? Try these natural remedies.
Thought that pregnancy was all about talking to the baby-bump and practising belly breathing? Well there is more than that you need to deal with. Watch out for these pregnancy niggles to keep them at bay.
Here we give you a wonderful way to celebrate International Yoga Day with 10 Yoga poses that actually work for losing weight and also provide other health benefits.