Back pain seems to plague the nation. There are many causes of back pain and varying degrees of pain to each one. While back pain can sometimes be a sign of an underlying condition, many times it can be resolved with chiropractic care. Here are 5 common causes of back pain.
Posture
Since COVID-19 entered the scene it seems like many people have moved to remote working for either a short period of time or permanently. If you set up a makeshift working station at the kitchen table or on the couch, chances are your setup is not ergonomically correct. If you’re sitting cross-legged on the couch while reading this, that may be the culprit. Spending too much time in suboptimal positions hunched over at a desk, watching tv, or going about your day can put a strain on your back causing you pain over time.
Make adjustments to your home if you’ve found yourself working from home more often. Invest in a quality desk that puts your screen at eye level so you don’t have to strain your neck. Take further steps to ease your back pain by visiting a chiropractor to help get you back into alignment.
Injury
After a major injury, most people tend to follow up with physical therapy or chiropractic care for help in recovery. This is a great idea for those who have been involved in a car accident, a contact sports injury, or even a minor fall. If you’ve recently had an injury no matter how small, it may be what is causing your back pain. Even a small fender bender can do enough damage to your alignment that realignment is warranted.
Don’t blow off your pain after an injury simply because it was a small one. This can lead to one of the common causes of back pain. You want to make sure your body heals correctly and in proper alignment so that you don’t end up with chronic back pain.
Inflammation
Inflammation is the root of many ailments in the body. From headaches to arthritis, inflammation is sneaky and can find ways to become a nuisance throughout the body. This is true even for back pain. Inflammatory back pain can be a sign of an underlying chronic condition, or it can be attributed to your lifestyle. If you’re overweight and live a pretty sedentary lifestyle, inflammation can set in causing back pain. Exercise and other lifestyle changes can be made to ease this back pain.
Repetitive Motions
Repetitive use of the same joints and muscles can cause pain over time. If your job requires you to consistently lift and move things you may experience back pain. This is true too for moms and caregivers. The constant repetitive motions that come along with caring for a newborn can cause strain that can lead to back pain. Hunching over while nursing, looking down at your little one while they sleep on you, or holding a toddler on your hip can all put a strain on you.
Whether you’re a career athlete, work in manual labor, or a caregiver, it is important to care for your body so that you can perform your responsibilities to the best of your ability. Working through the pain or ignoring the pain hoping it will resolve in time is not the best course of action.
Muscle Strain
Another one of the common causes of back pain is muscle strain. Your gym goals may be giving you the back pain that doesn’t allow you to give it your all at your workouts anymore. If you’re frustrated by your lack of mobility or you’ve lost full range of motion it may be due to muscle strain and distorted joint mechanics. Chiropractic care can help by making sure all of the neuropathways are sending and receiving the right signals via the nervous system.
When all of your muscles are working properly your body can disperse the load evenly. However, when one is out of commission, your body relies on the others to pick up the slack. This can cause poor muscle activation and less effective workouts.
It is more efficient to find the root cause than to live your life by taking painkillers. Reach out to your chiropractor or find a doctor who can help you find the best course of action for your back pain.
Contact Us
At Better Day Chiropractic, we’re dedicated to serving you throughout your pregnancy and postpartum recovery. We also offer sports, family, and pediatric chiropractic care. If you are located in Charlotte or the surrounding areas, reach out to us today.
