Back problems are the most common disease. Many adults experience back pain from time to time. These can be located in very different ways and be very pronounced. In addition to a lack of exercise, risk factors include obesity and stress. Here we explain how the most common back complaints arise and what you can do about it.
The grip on the tense neck is a part of everyday life for many. This is mainly due to muscle tension and tightness in the upper thoracic and cervical spine. The pain in the neck area is often the result of an unfavorable working position or intensive use of the smartphone. Hint: Check your posture regularly while working and using your smartphone. For example, don't look too often at the mobile phone. It is also recommended to strengthen the back muscles with exercises to avoid discomfort. A back-friendly workplace is just as essential – such as an office chair that allows ergonomic sitting and a height-adjustable desk that allows you to stand occasionally.
In contrast to neck problems, the so-called lumbago usually becomes noticeable very suddenly and after a wrong movement. And while it usually goes as fast as it came, many fear this pain. The reasons are usually displaced or blocked vertebral joints or muscle tension. The problem: because of the severe pain, those affected take a relieving pose, which further aggravates the symptoms. The so-called step positioning makes more sense to relieve the sore muscles. To do this, lay your back and head flat on a soft surface. The knees and lower legs are then placed on a chair. The knee and hip joints should form a right angle. Also important: instead of lying on the couch, you have to do your daily tasks to the best of your ability. Because those who move are demonstrably fit faster. Heat can also help relieve pain, as it relaxes tense muscles. For example, conditions of constant therapeutic heat are helpful. A light massage from a physiotherapist can also provide relief. As a preventive measure, it is advisable to integrate sufficient exercise into everyday life and to avoid bad posture.
Another common cause of back pain is a hernia. And not without reason: more than half of all 40-year-olds already show signs of wear on their intervertebral discs. In old age, 90 percent of all people are affected. If a herniated disc occurs, the gelatinous core of the intervertebral disc passes through the fibrous ring around it and presses on a nerve. This can cause severe pain and even numbness in the extremities. Typical symptoms are paralysis and tingling in the arms and legs. If the lumbar vertebrae are affected, patients can barely stand in heels or on their toes, and an incident in the cervical spine can numb fingers and arms. However, hernias can also be harmless and show virtually no symptoms. In more than 90 percent of cases, no surgery is needed, but therapy is sufficient. This usually includes a combination of pain medication, local infiltration treatment (injections), light exercise, and physical therapy. Relaxation exercises and heat applications are also good for your back. Sufficient physical activity and avoiding poor posture and obesity are helpful for prevention.
