Back pain is considered a symptom of advancing age due to wear and tear changes in the joints that eventually involves ligaments and muscles. Although, the spinal muscles are designed to sustain contraction and pressure for longer period of time without getting fatigued, with advancing age and some systemic or organic diseases, the capacity of back muscles to sustain pressure decreases, leading to the symptoms of back pain with activity.
The cause of backache largely depends on the level of activity and the age of individuals. In old age, degenerative bone diseases, osteopenia or osteoporosis (de-mineralized bones) and compression vertebral fractures are the most common causes of backache. In younger individuals non-traumatic causes are mostly trivial that resolves spontaneously, without leaving any significant morbidity or disability.
Associated factors of backache normally help in pointing to the cause/ diagnosis of backache. Backache along with sharp and shooting pain down the legs indicate sciatica. Limited range of motion of spine indicates degenerative diseases or inflammatory joint conditions that cause stiffness of joints. Involvement of bowel or bladder indicates a more neurogenic cause. Sometimes presence of one or more of the symptoms suggest the co-existence of a multi-factorial issue like long standing arthritic changes in spine that can lead to spinal stenosis that will eventually cause neural abnormalities.
If you are experiencing chronic backache for at least a period of 2 weeks or longer in the absence of any trauma or injury, you must see a healthcare provider. Physical therapy provides relief in almost all the cases of backache; however, you must first determine the primary cause or etiology of your backache.
Generally physical therapy exercises helps in regulating normal circulation that promotes healing regardless of the type of injury. Physical therapy exercises for relieving backache are normally directed towards three basic goals: aerobic conditioning, stretching and strengthening.
Aerobic conditioning or high impact or vigorous physical activity should not be performed by individuals who have back-pain. However, in order to improve the stability and functioning of back muscles, low impact exercises are extremely helpful. These include swimming, yoga, cycling and brisk walking. Low impact exercises and aerobic conditioning help in detoxification of tissues that decrease the formation of free radicals and reactive oxygen species. Free radicals damage the tissues and delay the natural healing process.
Stretching exercises normally deal with the exercises involving hamstring muscles of the thigh. Moreover stretching exercises of the back region help in the realignment of ligaments by reducing the stress and tension on back muscles and improving blood supply to clear toxins from the tissues.
Exercises that employ strengthening of back muscles require low impact, high energy exercises by following the recommendation and exercises suggested by physical therapists. Strong back muscles provide support to the vertebral bodies, nerves and blood vessels.
TENS Units for Electrotherapy is also one of the very popularly used methods to relieve backache. Physiotherapists use the TENS technique that helps in relieving backache by releasing trans-cutaneous electrical nerve signals which reduces the perception of the brain to the nerve pain associated with backache.
Experts also suggest massaging and application of warm compresses (in the lumbar vertebral region) to be very effective and soothing for relieving backache. Warm compresses (via a hot water bottle) and massaging (with the help of certain massaging devices or experienced massage therapists) improves the blood circulation that helps in the wash-off the inflammatory and pain causing mediators and also ensure healthy recovery of spinal tissue, vertebrae and ligaments.
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