Anyone can develop back pain at any point in their lives. Knowing the risk factors associated with back pain, the cause may be more severe than you think. If you are experiencing back pain and looking for physical therapy near Central Park, NYC, contact us or book an appointment to find the best treatment. Your treatment could reduce or even eliminate your back pain today!
Risk factors that may cause back pain:
Fitness level – Back pain is more common for those who are not physically fit. This is caused by a weakness in the back and stomach muscles that do not properly support the spine. It is also common to exercise too strenuously after being inactive for a long time.
Weight gain – Stress on the back due to weight gain is a common cause of back pain. A diet that consists of high calories and fat with an inactive lifestyle can lead to obesity.
Age – Back pain becomes much more common with age due to stress over time, notably around 45 to 50 years old.
Work-related – Lines of work that consist of persistent heavy lifting, pulling, or compound movements can injure the back or make you more prone to back pain. Even a desk job that requires no physical activity can cause back pain if you have poor posture or sit in an uncomfortable chair for hours at a time.
Disease or conditions – Arthritis, scoliosis, and cancer can lead to back pain. About 80% of back pain only lasts 1-7 days. If it is chronic, it may be caused by arthritis. Pain in the lower back is the most common site of arthritis. Back pain is a rare sign of cancer but can still result from spinal or colorectal cancer. Scoliosis is the curvature of the spine which causes pain.
Heredity – Genetics may contribute to some disorders that cause back pain.
Types of back pain:
Thoracic – The thoracic spine is made up of the twelve vertebrae to which the ribs attach. This is known as the “upper back” region of the spine. A severe underlying condition highly likely causes pain in the thoracic region of the spine. Symptoms to keep an eye out for include fever and chills, unexplainable weight loss, severe stiffness, or nerve tingling and numbness in the legs or lower body.
Middle back – pain that occurs above the lumbar region of the spine but below the rib cage. The symptoms associated with middle back pain can be unclear or difficult to diagnose, which can be annoying, especially for chronic cases. Elements that can cause a person to develop middle back pain include pregnancy, weight gain or obesity, smoking, and lack of physical activity.
Lumbago – Pain that stems from the lower back region that can be caused by several factors caused, primarily by muscle or ligament strain. The main causes can be poor posture, improper or excessive lifting, lack of exercise, arthritis, and ruptured disc(s). Most lower back pain will go away on its own in 2 to 4 weeks and is not usually caused by an underlying disease.
Treatment and prevention:
Stretching – The most important thing you can do is daily stretching exercises that only take a few minutes. It will protect your back from future injuries or conditions and will treat current ones.
Physical therapy and medical massage – These treatments can benefit acute and chronic back conditions. Therapy, exercise programs that can be done at home, or a professional massage will relieve your back pain.
Health – A good exercise and diet routine is imperative to maintain a healthy back and spine. Proper posture and sleeping on your back or side will sustain good spinal support. Eliminating health-impacting vices like excessive smoking or drinking will improve back health.
Surgery – Particularly serious cases may not be treatable through non-invasive means. Standard surgical procedures include discectomy and/or vertebrae fusion. A discectomy involves the removal of all or part of an injured spinal disc, and vertebral infusion focuses on physically joining two adjacent vertebrae to create a strong structure. These surgeries can be performed together in some cases.
The treatment for back pain rests firmly on the location and cause of the pain, but many conditions can be partially or completely treated through these methods. Most can be done at home.
Physical therapy near Central Park
Back pain can significantly obstruct daily activities and may affect one’s quality of life. If you are suffering from back pain, it is strongly recommended that you see our medical professionals for a diagnosis. Back pain can be the result of something minor or can have serious underlying causes; we urge you to have it checked out. If you are experiencing back pain, seek physical therapy near Central Park, NYC, like H&D Physical Therapy today!
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