Back Pain Explained

Back Pain explains what back pain is and how it can be treated and prevented.

Basic Anatomy:

• Back Pain Home
• Anatomy for Beginners
• Types of Pain
• Finding Acute Relief
• Intervertebral Disc
• The Spinal Ligaments
• The Sacrum
• The Vertebra

Causes of Back Pain:

• Backache
• Prolapsed Disc
• Sciatica
• Spinal Stenosis
• Scoliosis
• Spondylosis
• Spondylolisis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Sacroiliac Joint
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Piriformis Syndrome
• Coccydynia

Back Pain Exercises:

• Benefits of Exercise
• Simple Exercises
• Core Stability
• Swiss Ball

Proper Posture:

• How Good is Yours?
• Posture in Depth
• Sitting Posture
• Standing Posture

Types of Therapy:

• Complementary Therapy
• Massage
• Reflexology
• Acupuncture

Surgery For Back Pain:

• Introduction
• Laminectomy
• Lumbar Discectomy
• Nerve Root Block

Massage for Low Back Pain

Massage...the healing power of human touch is a positive experience that many people enjoy through therapeutic massage. The effects go much deeper than the skin's surface. It can:

1) Help improve circulation of the blood and lower blood pressure.

2) Act as a detoxification system by propelling toxic waste products through the lymphatic system.

3) Help to improve muscle tone and prevent muscular atrophy resulting from inactivity or illness.

4) Reduce emotional stress and promote a sense of well-being.

How can this simple hands-on therapy help those with low back pain? A tense or painful muscle is one which is often chronically contracted. In an acute situation such as recent back injury, the muscle can be in spasm. This contraction or spasm decreases the flow of blood to the muscle, which leads to a decrease in the nutrient and oxygen supply to the cells of the muscle and related nerves in the area. A chronically contracted muscle will build up lactic acid, a sign of fatigue (remember when you work a muscle hard, say in the gym and you experience that burning feeling? Well, that's the lactic acid in the muscle). This oxygen shortage and lactic acid build-up irritates the nerve cells, which makes the muscle contract even more! Massage can help remove the lactic acid and other metabolic waste products from the cells and reverse this process, interrupting the vicious cycle of pain-spasm-pain.

There are a multitude of styles which are beneficial, depending upon the individual's needs and preferences. They include:

Swedish Massage this is the basic "relaxation" style of bodywork, which uses long strokes, squeezing and kneading. The Swedish practitioner helps to improve circulation by working to loosen or relax the superficial layers of muscle. This type of massage is particularly useful for muscles which are already sore from stress or a tough workout, as it is often more gentle than other styles.

Sports Massage works on a deeper level of musculature or connective tissue. This style fits more with the "no pain, no gain" philosophy. The therapist uses slow, hard strokes and deep, sustained finger pressure to work deeply into the contracted muscles, fascia and tendons. This technique increases flexibility, encourages muscles to work at their fullest capacity, and speeds up the healing process by reducing swelling following an injury. It is especially indicated for athletes and "week-end warriors" who suffer from tight or sore muscles. It can be uncomfortable!

Shiatsu and Acupressure: Rather than being simply relaxing, this form of bodywork tends to be invigorating. Fingers, thumbs, fists and elbows are used to apply pressure to points along acupuncture meridians, which are believed to be the energy pathways of the body. The focus of this type of therapy is on relieving blocks in the pathways and rebalancing the flow of energy.