Back Pain

Back pain and lower back problems affect 4 out of 5 Swedes at some point in their lives and the problems vary from temporary muscular pain, to chronic problems and instability. Back pain can be caused by, for example, incorrect movement and strain, poor posture, pregnancy, sedentary behaviour, herniated discs, obesity and stress. Most types of back pain can be categorised as: back weakness, spinal cord injury, herniated discs, sciatica or a combination of these. What they all have in common is that they cause pain, discomfort and fatigue.

Back weakness is usually caused by a weakening of the muscles that stabilise and relieve the pressure on the spinal discs. Back pain usually occurs during a sudden movement when a locking of two neighbouring vertebrae combined with a weakened back occurs. Herniated discs mean that a damaged disc in the spine can irritate the nerves in the spinal cord and cause inflammation. Sciatica can be true or false, with true sciatica involving the sciatic nerve being pinched by tense muscles or a narrowed disc. A false sciatica is related to nerve entrapment in the hips, legs or back. However, what both true and false sciatica have in common is pain that radiates from the hip or back down the legs. Back pain is also very common during pregnancy and studies show that as many as 50-80% of pregnant women suffer from back pain. The most common is pain in the lumbar spine, but some form of sciatica with radiation pain in the back and legs, as well as joint pain, is also common.

HOW IS BACK PAIN TREATED?
Treating back pain can be done in a variety of ways. However, it is good to be aware that it is always important to find out the cause of your back pain, as back pain should be treated according to the cause.
Most of the time, back pain is completely harmless and usually goes away on its own. Sometimes, however, it may require treatment, medical attention or aids such as a back support or back belt.
For those who have back pain but are not quite sure where the pain is coming from, our strong recommendation is to seek the help of a knowledgeable professional to get an accurate diagnosis. Once diagnosed, self-help is usually the best prescription, but without a diagnosis, it is easy to take the wrong steps to rehabilitate the injury and, in the worst case scenario, the pain can get worse. Medical professionals can be a doctor, physiotherapist, naprapath, chiropractor or osteopath. In many cases, when it is not entirely clear where the pain is coming from, a second opinion from several different types of medical professionals can be valuable.

CAN YOU EXERCISE WITH BACK PAIN?
If you have a herniated disc with pain, or back pain for another reason and have never exercised, you should train your entire body slowly, initially it can be about walking and simple home exercises to eventually do more advanced training.
A good rule is to avoid exercising things that hurt more when you exercise or make the pain worse after exercise. For example, it is common to get more pain after heavy lifting with forward bends and rotations. In an acute stage, regardless of what the pain is due to, it is about pain relief and movement so that you feel better and the pain decreases, a backrest can relieve your pain. Once the pain is relieved, you can return to your regular exercise. Using a good and stable backrest can help you get started with the training faster and, above all, the back feels safer and you dare to take the turns in your movements a little more.
Once you have started exercising, it can be good to remember to train your stability first and gradually get your back used to the exercise you want to do. Go slowly and use a backrest!

HOW DOES A BACK BELT AFFECT YOUR BODY?
If you use a backrest, it is good to make sure you also train your back, core and pelvic muscles. Back supports do not break down muscles, but you should make sure to increase your muscle fitness as well as the muscular coordination in your back. Using a back belt is a good way to make it easier for yourself when you start exercising your back. A back belt is common and can also reduce your pain and give you more controlled movement in your back.

Take care of yourself and don't be afraid to seek help for your back pain! And if you want extra support for your back in everyday life or during sports activities, click here to see our range of back protectors.