Back Pain

If you feel back (lumbar) pain, you are not alone. Nearly everyone at some point has back pain that interferes with work, daily activities or recreation. According to the US National Institutes of Health, in the USA alone, at least $50 billion is spent per year on lower back pain - the most frequent cause of work-related disability. Vertebrae, muscles, nerves and complex joints are all intricately related throughout our backs. Therefore, when there is a contraction of muscles or a joint is hurt - particularly due to a rarely exercised spine or poor posture - inflammation and pain are quickly felt all in the back. In contrast to the purposes for which our bodies were designed, in the 21st century, especially in industrialized countries, people are quite sedentary. The result for many modern people is that they do not move enough to keep their muscles strong and stable. And if muscles are weak, they are unable to adequately support the spine. This is the reason why backaches are so common in modern civilizations. To make matters worse, pain causes additional muscle contraction that, if not treated, can result in new backaches. If your nerves become irritated, the pain may eventually extend to your arms, legs and head.
If you feel severe back pain, or if it is caused after getting injured or if it does not ease within three days, you should consult a medical doctor.

Some tips to protect your spine:

When lifting heavy objects that are below knee level, bend your knees to leverage your leg muscles, rather than bend at the waist.

Being overweight is related to an increased risk of developing herniated disks (the soft "cushions" between the bones of the spine) and other back-pain-causing problems. When a disk between two bones in the spine presses on the nerves around the backbone, it’s called a herniated disk. For your spine’s sake, keep your weight suitable for your body.

In order to give your back a good rest at night, the best way to sleep is on your side with knees bent and using a pillow for your head. Some people get good results by placing a pillow or other soft support between their knees.

Breathing exercises are also very helpful, not only to develop our lung capacity, but also to improve posture, making it stronger and more flexible.

When back pain appears, Aspirin® - the most studied anti-inflammatory and pain reliever in history - is a safe and effective aid to get you back to your normal routine and enjoying life.