Looking for effective back pain treatment?
There can be multiple causes and multiple solutions.
The first steps in any back pain treatment are:
- Diagnosis
- Figuring out whether it's a muscular, skeletal or nerve issue
- Seeking help from a health care professional.
**The following article presumes you don't have something nasty like a herniated disc or sciatica.**
If your (particularly lower) back pain is deemed due to muscular tightness, there is a drug free back pain treatment you can try. It's like this. In my experience, doing this gets rid of the problem in 9 out of 10 cases. Even if it isn't the solution, it won't do any harm.
Sounds like a pretty good back pain treatment, right?!
Here goes:
Squat and Stretch.
That's it.
Check this out for the ‘What', ‘Why' and ‘How':
First of all, let's start with the squat.
Here's a video of Coach Nav with a beautiful demonstration.
Having a squat that goes deep without losing back position is fundamental to hip and spine health.
No part of the system is having to compensate for another part.
If you can squat like this then chances are you don't suffer from back pain. 🙂
Here's a squatting drill (do this freestanding or holding a post):
- Go to the bottom of the squat
- Hold it there
- Hang out as long as you can (up to 10 mins)
If you can stay there for 10 minutes, you probably don't have back problems (anymore!)
If you can't stay there (muscles of the legs or back start hurting too much), then do this every other day – building up to 10 minutes.
We aren't looking for excruciating. Aim for improvement over time.
Now stretching. Hold each for at least 30 seconds. Let's have a look!
Gluteal Stretch
Tight, weak ‘glutes' are a common factor in sore lower backs.
Turns out, muscles ‘go to sleep' when you sit on them 8+ hours a day!
Get into this ‘figure 4' position and pull your knee towards you.
Play with the knee position until you feel it in the meat of the muscle.
Alternative Gluteal Stretch
For those that ‘don't feel' the other one, this is an alternative that works for many.
Get the foot of one leg to touch the knee of the other leg.
Stay ‘tall' and hinge at the hips to apply the stretch. Don't bend your back.
Hip Flexor Stretch
Chronic sitting leads to short hip flexors.
This set of muscles attaches to the back of your pelvis.
- Get into a long lunge position
- ‘Tuck' your tail bone under to get into the front of the hip of your rear leg.
- Let your hips ‘sink' forward as you relax and breathe into this stretch
Pretzel Stretch
A great multitasking stretch.
This combines gentle lumbar twist, hip flexor, quad, pec and some thoracic mobility too.
-
- Lie on one side and grab your ‘bottom' leg at the back (like a quad stretch)
- Bring your ‘top' leg up to 90 degrees.
Aim towards getting both your top knee and opposite shoulder to the floor. Enjoy!
Hamstring Stretch
Another important link in the ‘posterior chain'.
- Keep the stretching leg straight, or slightly bent
- Don't pull your toes back – that's a nerve stretch
- Your other leg can be bent or straight
- This can also be done standing, but keep your back straight
The Plank
- Use your posterior chain to keep your whole body in a straight line.
- Great for developing global core strength and endurance.
- Can be scaled back by putting your knees on the floor.
Check out these links for more ways you can move better, hurt less and look after yourself.
For more information on more serious issues and back pain treatment for them, read this article from Gordon Physio.
