When
Back Pain Attacks
by
Laura Emery, Field Editor
You�re driving home and traffic is
backed up for miles. You�re tired from a long day�s work, and you�re
hungry. But what�s ailing you the most is the fact that your back is
aching and no matter how many times you reposition yourself in your seat,
the pain doesn�t go away. In fact, it seems to hurt even more.
You are not alone. Back pain is one of
the most common medical problems, affecting eight out of 10 people at some
point during their lives. Lower back pain is the second most common reason
that Americans see their doctor, after colds and the flu.
More U.S. health-care dollars � an
estimated $86 billion �- are spent treating back and neck pain than
almost any other medical condition. Back pain can range from a dull,
constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain. Acute back pain comes on suddenly
and usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Chronic back pain lasts
for more than three months.
Many people simply learn to suffer
with the fleeting back pain � but, more often than not, simple changes
in lifestyle, environment, and posture can help alleviate the pain and
aches. This is where the Internet can be a valuable resource. Check out
these Web sites for a wide range of information on all things relating to
back pain.
Back Pain Central
www.webmd.com/back-pain
Here
at WebMD, you can browse the Back Pain Health Center. This section is
filled with links to articles and Web sites discussing the causes and
cures for back pain. It also has links to back pain information in the
news, support and resources, informational videos on dealing with back
pain, and even a section where you can talk to others who are also
experiencing different types of back pain.
http://orthopedics.about.com
This
Web site will help you understand the causes and treatment of back pain.
www.spine-health.com
The goal at Spine-Health.com is to provide visitors with a comprehensive,
highly informative and useful resource for understanding, preventing, and
seeking appropriate treatment for back and neck pain and related
conditions. This site has been developed by a multi-specialty group of
medical professionals. It is continually enhanced with new features, and
bases its direction and future developments on visitor feedback. This Web
site is worth visiting.
www.backpaincuresonline.com
BackPainCuresOnline.com
is a great resource, and is filled with educational and informative
articles on all things relating to back pain. Back pain is often a symptom
of some other problem. This Web site will give you a better idea of how to
pinpoint the causes for your unexplained back aches. Remember, it
important to consult a medical professional if back pain persists.
Protecting
Your Back at Work
www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/Ergonomics/compergo.htm
Many
people spend hours of their workday in front of a computer. Oftentimes,
they are unknowingly sitting and working in a position that is unhealthy
for the back vertebrae and muscles. Contrary to popular belief, sitting,
which most people believe is relaxing, is hard on the back. Sitting for
long periods of time can cause increased pressure on the intervertebral
discs � the spongy discs between the vertebrae. Sitting is also hard on
the feet and legs. This Web site will show you how to maintain good
sitting posture and describes optimal back-friendly arrangements for your
computer equipment.
Exercises
for Back Pain
www.bigbackpain.com/back_exercises.html
Weak
muscles are often at the root of back pain, especially lower back pain.
The muscles of the back, the abdomen, and the buttocks all support the
spine. These muscles are called the core muscles. Muscles are the spine's
main defense against gravity. Strengthening the muscles that support the
spine with back exercises, abdominal exercises and buttocks exercises, can
prevent, reduce and even eliminate back pain. On this Web site, you will
find pages and pages of exercises to help avoid and alleviate back pain.
Whether it�s �the cat,� �the cobra,� crunches or the chest
stretch, you�re sure to find the perfect stretching exercise for your
physical level.
www.solveyourproblem.com/back-pain-relief/
exercises_for_back_pain_yoga.shtml
Many
people believe that rest is best for a painful back, but what your back
really needs when it�s hurt is exercise. Regular exercise relieves back
pain by strengthening and stretching the muscles that support the spine
and helps to prevent future injury. This is a use-it-or-lose-it situation:
the more you rest, the weaker your back gets, even if it is hurt. This Web
site takes a thorough look at some of the best exercises for relieving
back pain. Among the exercises is regular yoga practice. According to this
site, studies have shown that yoga is the number-one most effective
exercise for relieving back pain. However, not all yoga poses relieve back
pain, and some can even aggravate existing pain, so it is important to
know which poses will be most helpful in relieving back pain. Here, you
will find a list of the best yoga exercises for reducing and avoiding back
pain.
http://backandneck.about.com/od/yogaforbackpain/Yoga_For_Back_Pain.htm
According
to this Web site, �Yoga, by its very nature, is well-suited to address
back problems arising from postural misalignment conditions such as
scoliosis and kyphosis, among others. As a whole body-movement system,
yoga develops body awareness and places emphasis on alignment.� Articles
on this Web site explain how to do yoga to help back pain. This site also
features a �Yoga for Back Pain Awareness Quiz� to see how well you
understand the poses and their effect on your back condition.