Back pain Avoid everyday back traps

Avoid back pain by simple preventive measures

02/07/2012

Almost a third of Germans suffer from recurrent back pain. Almost every German citizen has back problems at least once in his life, although the intensity and duration of the pain can vary considerably. While some are only occasionally plagued by light tension, others have chronic back problems that affect them massively in everyday life.

The cause of the back pain is in addition to the wear often a wrong posture, explains the orthopedist. med. Reinhard Schneiderhan, President of the German Spine League and Orthopedic Director of the Regional Center of the German Society for Pain Therapy e.V. (DGS) Munich / Taufkirchen in a recent press release. However, according to the expert, the back problems caused by an unhealthy posture were relatively easy to avoid with the help of a few simple preventive measures. Thus, the President of the German Spine League on which factors unnecessarily burden the back in everyday life and what measures can be taken against it.

Tips for maintaining a healthy back
According to the Munich experts, almost all Germans suffer from back pain once in their lives, with symptoms ranging from occasional tension to severe permanent back problems. The wrong posture of those affected often plays a crucial role here. According to the president of the German Spine League, the back pain in many patients could be significantly reduced or even completely avoided by taking into account a few simple preventive measures. The orthopedist therefore explains in his current press release where the traps for the back are in everyday life and gives tips for maintaining a healthy back.

Relieve the spine when sitting or standing
According to Reinhard Schneiderhan, posture has a significant impact on the health of the back. Thus, for example, a wrong posture during sitting and standing could permanently cause increasing back problems, which in the worst case end in a herniated disc. To counteract this, the spine should be regularly relieved by even weight shifting and targeted position changes, said the expert. Schneiderhan advises, „from time to time shift the weight from the left to the right leg when standing“ and to change position often during long periods of sitting. In particular, in the workplace dynamic load can protect against back problems by sitting long. In this context, the President of the German Spine League also referred to the fact that not only crooked sitting can cause back pain, but also sustained straight-backed sitting stress on the back. Here, the discs are more stressed than in slightly reclined seated posture, so the statement of the expert.

Avoid back pain with the right mattress and sleeping position
The back problems occur in many affected especially in the morning after getting up, which is usually an indication of unsuitable mattresses or a poor slatted base, reports the President of the German Spine League. According to the experts complain „Many people, especially after getting up with tension, some of which persist throughout the day.“ The reason for this is often too hard or soft mattresses or an insufficient slatted base, which is why when buying urgently a consultation should be made by an expert, so the statement of Reinhard Schneiderhan. In addition, there are tricks for each sleeping position, which contribute to the relief of the back, reports the expert. For example, in back sleepers special neck pillows, which ensure the correct distance between the ears and shoulders and bring the cervical spine in position to recommend. In addition, a pillow under the knees for back sleepers may also be helpful to relieve the lumbar spine. The expert advises the side-sleepers to place a pillow between their knees, as this also helps to relieve the spine.

Back traps in the household
According to the president of the German Spinal Cord League, in addition to office work, many household activities also pose an increased risk of back pain. To avoid tension and corresponding back problems, the back must remain as straight as possible even during household chores such as ironing or vacuuming. According to Reinhard Schneiderhan, height-adjustable devices can protect against excessive strain on the back. So should for example „when ironing the board at belly height“ be set to ensure optimal posture, advises the Munich orthopedist. In other household activities such as vacuuming should be respected, according to Schneiderhan to avoid back and back pain especially on the posture. The movable rods of the devices should be used to reach hard to reach corners with a straight back and to protect the spine.

Shopping bags strain the spine
Another risk factor in everyday life, according to the president of the German Spine League is the carrying of shopping bags. In the case of a one-sided strain, these will permanently bend the spine and can thus cause considerable back pain. To avoid this, Schneiderhan advises „the weight evenly on two bags“ to disperse and to carry this with the sides of the body adjacent arms. So result „an optimal position to avoid damage to the spine“, reports the orthopedist. As an alternative, according to the expert, a transport of shopping in a backpack is recommended because unnecessary burdens of the back would be completely avoidable. If heavy cargoes are required to be loaded or unloaded while in the car, the expert recommends walking twice and carrying less rather than straining the back disproportionately.

Back pain as a symptom of other diseases
Although most of the suggestions of the Munich orthopedic surgeons are generally valid, however, not all back pain can be avoided by considering the instructions. Because not infrequently, the symptoms are merely a symptom of another disease, such as esophagitis, coronary heart disease or pulmonary embolism. Even a heart attack can cause pain in the back. The same applies, for example, to kidney stones, nephritis, pyelitis, or renal infarction, with the back complaints manifesting themselves primarily as flank pain. The back problems can also be caused psychosomatically, which makes the diagnosis of the causes even more difficult. In case of recurrent back pain due to the possible health risks caused by the causative diseases in any case, medical assistance. (Fp)

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Image: Benjamin Thorn