Back Pain Causes

Cause of Most Back Pain

Because of weak back muscles, any excessive lifting or exertion can cause the muscles to stretch too far, develop tears which become inflamed and swollen and create pain.  Any activity that requires the use of any back muscles which is not a normal activity has the propensity to end up creating an injury.  Often, people perform activities incorrectly, which stretches the muscles in a manner they are not designed to be.  Dancing, bowling, tennis; practically any sport that is not done on a regular basis and then attempted with all of the vim and vigor of one who has been playing the sport regularly is likely to cause middle back pain.  There are other causes of pain in the back that have nothing to do with exercise or exertion, but rather with medical conditions and disorders.  Pregnancy is often associated with back pain, especially as the baby becomes larger and the mother’s body becomes burdened with extra weight.  Diseases such as gall bladder, pneumonia, kidney infection, peptic ulcers, lung conditions, heart disease and pancreatitis all carry symptoms of back pain as well.  Arthritis and scoliosis are conditions of the spine which can cause pain also. 

Treatment for Back Pain

It is important not to disregard back pain.  If you have recently participated in an activity which is likely to have caused the pain you are experiencing, try taking an over the counter pain medication and rest the back as much as possible to see if the pain is relieved.  Most strains and sprains will heal on their own within a few weeks, but the pain can be quite debilitating in some cases.  A heating pad along with an analgesic gel or rub can work with a pain reliever to lessen the pain while the injury heals.  For back pain that is associated with a disease or condition, your doctor should be consulted as soon as you begin experiencing the pain.  He/she will be able to accurately determine the cause for the pain, and begin a treatment that will both ease the pain and the source of it.  

Prevention of Back Pain

As with any type of pain, prevention is always the best medicine.  Weight bearing exercise and aerobic exercise are ideal to help strengthen all of the vital muscles, bones and ligaments within the human body.  While walking or jogging may be great aerobic exercises, they do very little in working the muscles of the back.  Discuss with your doctor the fact that you wish to begin an exercise regimen that will include targeting the back muscles.  If you regularly attend a gym, schedule a session with a personal trainer who can not only prescribe a set of exercises for you to perform but also demonstrate how to do them safely.  On your own at home, easy exercises are available that can get you well on your way to back health.   For the beginner, strengthening exercises as opposed to muscle building exercises should be attempted initially.  Remember to start slowly; muscles will take a little time to acclimate to the extra tasks assigned to them, and starting with just a few repetitions and building a little more each session will build them the safe and correct way.  Some great programs for back strengthening are yoga, Tai Chai and Pilates, which concentrate on good posture and breathing to achieve muscle toning and strength.  These types of programs are best done in a class setting to begin with, but many videos and television programs that are devoted to their instruction can be very beneficial as well as able to be performed in the privacy of one’s own home.

Middle back pain can easily become an issue with anyone.  Most people have undeveloped and weakened back muscles that can become injured through activity, and some people have underlying issues such as diseases or medical conditions for which back pain can be symptomatic.  We all carry the propensity for back injury through lives that are more sedentary than nature intended them to be.  Stretching, strengthening and exercises these muscles can not only alleviate pain but can actually prevent injury from occurring during activities and sports. 

If a medical condition is the cause of your back pain, consult with your doctor to determine which exercises will work with your regular treatments to ease the discomfort.  For others, preventing possible injury by investing time and care in the most valuable machine you will ever use and depend on:  your own body.