‘The best movement is the next movement’: how to really look after your lower back
An estimated 80% of the population will suffer from lower back pain at some point. The good news is that preventing it is a lot easier than treating it
TL;DR
- Approximately 80% of people will experience lower back pain at some point.
- Most lower back pain starts with benign triggers like muscle spasms, leading to nerve sensitization.
- Contrary to common belief, imaging scans often show no significant difference between individuals with and without back pain.
- Genetic, lifestyle, and mental health factors can predispose individuals to back pain.
- Stress, poor sleep, fatigue, and inactivity can increase the likelihood of back spasms.
- Lifestyle changes such as better sleep, quitting smoking, healthier diet, and increased physical activity can significantly reduce healthcare costs associated with low back pain.
- Consistent movement and exercising the spine in all directions (flexion, extension, rotation, side-bending) are recommended.
- It's important to keep moving, even with pain, by modifying movements rather than ceasing them.