What Is Causing Your Back Pain?

Possible primary and secondary causes of your back pain include:

• Poor posture
• Faulty ergonomics
• Muscle imbalance
• Faulty lifting techniques
• Poor abdominal function especially post caesarian
• Stress
• Poor nutrition
• Spinal fractures
• Spinal infections
• Degenerative disease
• Nutrition

This list is however not exhaustive.

Faulty Ergonomics

The seated work station is fast becoming the number one environment for employees around the world. This is one of the biggest causes of poor posture today. The human body is simply not designed to be seated for long periods of time. Slumped for eight hours a day, looking down at a monitor, whilst hunching their shoulders typing has massive implications for back care and back health. In addition, many hours are spent driving a vehicle in poor posture whist commuting.
It always interests me how many companies overlook the ergonomic environment in which their employees operate yet complain how many days are lost in productivity due to back pain!!

Muscle Imbalance

The vast majority of the UK population has muscle imbalance issues. Muscle imbalance results in undue stress and strain on bones, joints ligaments and muscles. The greater a persons muscle imbalance, the more wear and tear on their joints.

Muscle imbalances in the body can cause the following in the lower back:

• excessive pressure on the vertebral discs
• vertebral disc degeneration
• instability
• spinal nerve root compression
• sacro-iliac joint dysfunction
• scoliosis (lateral deviation in the curve of the spine)
• abdominal wall dysfunction

Any of the above outcomes of muscle imbalance will potentially cause pain or injury.

In addition to poor sitting and ergonomics, there are other possible causes of poor posture and muscle imbalance. They include:

• Lack of physical activity and exercise leading to muscle weakness
• Poor breathing pattern
• Faulty jaw mechanics
• Faulty vision
• Atlas subluxation (rotated first cervical vertebra)
• Visceral (organ) stress
• Emotional blockages.

Because the human body is so complexed in our experience it is unlikely you will ever find one person who will be able to do everything required to get you functioning optimally and pain free.

Poor Abdominal Wall Function

The abdominal musculature acts as a support to the lower back. If the abdominal muscles possess inadequate strength and endurance they leave the spine exposed and more susceptible to injury.

The abdominal wall musculature can also be inhibited by intestinal inflammation which can be caused by for example food intolerance.

So it could also be the foods you eat that are causing your back pain. A HealthExcel Metabolic Typing Intermediate Level Advisor can help you identify if your foods are causing your back pain.

In health and happiness,

Peter Lemon
C.H.E.K I, C.H.E.K Exercise Coach, CMTA