The Truth about Back Pain

1.  Stomach is too big:  A protruding stomach is one of the main reasons for lower back pain.  When ones stomach pokes out abnormally, then it becomes very difficult to stand-up right and that forward and/or backward lean has a pulling effect on the muscles in ones lower back.  Imagine having to walk around holding a weight right in front of your waist or wearing a book bag reversed in the front, that is the equivalent to the type of strain one is putting on their lower back when they allow their stomach to protrude.  Solution lose weight, eat less food and exercise everyday no excuses.

2. Carrying extra weight in a bag: Women who wear purses or men who wear book bags on one side, are doing their back’s a great disservice.  When the side of ones body is forced to lean, even if it is subtlety, then the entire spinal region is thrown off.  It seems that our culture is changing to where women’s purses are getting bigger and heavier (Client-Jenny Baker).  Men are wearing book bags and satchels (Hangover reference) more and more nowadays so they too have to be cognizant of the undistributed weight on their bodies as well.  Solution keep items at desk at work on in car instead of on your person.  

3.  Lack of flexibility:  Having tight hamstrings and tight hips is the reason for a tightness in ones lower back.  The hamstrings actually help to keep the human body up-right and hips allow one to sit and stand with ease.  If ones lower extremities are tight then one’s body is forced to work harder even with simple task, like walking up stairs or bending over to pick up a piece of paper.  That extra work equates to an increased risk of strain.   Solution start stretching everyday or take a local yoga class.   

4.  Bad mattress:  The average human being will spend 1/3 of their life in the bed.  And if you have a TV in your bedroom, you will spend more than that.  Where you lay is a key aspect to sustain a healthy lower back.  Change your mattress every 5-10 years (depending on the quality)  Here are some tips to ensure ones mattress supports ones back longer and better.  

• Don’t let your kids use your bed as a trampoline.

• Rotate your mattress. If you have a single-sided mattress (you sleep on only one side), rotate the mattress from end to end—that is, move the mattress 180 degrees. The foot of the mattress is now at the head, and vice versa.

• Use a bed frame that has a center support.

Siddiqu “The Personal Trainer” is a CPT, motivational speaker, author of  How Are You Fat and Saved?! He is also the Co-creator of the largest bootcamp in Chicago The No Excuse Bootcamp and the exercise series “You Would Think I Invented Sweat” for booking information or more fitness tips visit www.chicagofit4life.com  

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *