22 Feb How Exercise Can Help Prevent Lower Back Pain
When it comes to being healthy, we all know what we need to do – get the right amount of sleep each night, eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and exercise regularly (ideally at least 30 mins of moderate exercise 5 times a week)
But, of course, this is often easier said than done and modern life often means we find ourselves rushed for time so we snack on the go, stress and anxiety can keep us awake at night and the nature of work can mean we sit for hours at a time, all of which can really take its toll on our health.
Leading a sedentary lifestyle is incredibly bad for us, in fact, and can result in all sorts of health complications, everything from an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes to high blood pressure, osteoporosis, depression, anxiety and even cancer… so it’s essential that we do all we can to keep as active as possible.
Not getting enough physical activity can also lead to low back pain, an incredibly common complaint and one you may well be experiencing already.
In the UK, one-third of the adult population is affected by lower back pain every year, with 20 per cent consulting their GP about the condition (Physiopedia, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2009), low back pain in adults: early management guide).
People are classified as sedentary if they do less than 30 minutes of moderate activity on all or most days of the week. Sedentary behaviour includes activities like sleeping, lying down, watching TV and other screen-based forms of entertainment.
However, it’s important to note that light physical activity such as sitting, writing, slow walking, cooking and so on isn’t considered sedentary behaviour, because they require energy expenditure above the resting level.
By being physically inactive, you’re deconditioning your body, which means that you’re more likely to experience pain and physical problems. This can then lead to depression, especially if you’re experiencing chronic pain, and disability. You then find yourself in a cycle where you’re afraid to move, so you become even more physically inactive.
If you are struggling with low back pain at the moment, it might be tempting to rest but this can make it worse, so try to be as active as possible and carry on with your typical daily routine and activities as far as you are able to.
Also consider getting in touch with us here at Guildford Osteopathy and Physiotherapy clinic OsteoVision, as we may well be able to relieve your symptoms and help ease your pain, as well as advising you on exercises that can help ensure you don’t experience problems such as this again in the future.
We use a range of different techniques to help physical problems like this, including soft tissue and joint manipulation, and joint articulation to help relieve pain, release tension and improve functionality.