Oh your aching back! Do you sit at a desk all day and then go home to rest because your lower back is throbbing? Do you modify, or give up, your exercise routine to accommodate your back pain? Would you do anything to get rid of the back pain that plagues you from morning to when you’re tossing and turning in bed at night?
Unfortunately, back pain is a complicated issue with many different causes. Back pain is extremely common in women, specifically lower back pain. The lower back, or lumbar back, is the weight-bearing part of the back and takes a lot of stress.
Some of the main causes of back pain in women include:
- Weight: Being overweight puts extra stress on the back muscles.
- Being out of shape: Even if you consider yourself fit, you may not be working your back muscles. You may even strain them when you do use them.
- Smoking: Aside from being unhealthy overall, causing cancer, and being proven to make us appear older, smoking can also increase back pain.
- Bad posture: Hunching over and slumping forward like at a desk, can force the spine out of alignment. This puts pressure on the nerves.
One main cause of back pain is the constant sitting that we all do. Sitting at a desk, in a meeting, and at the movies, all put pressure on your lower back. This area of your back is where pain is most commonly experienced. Constantly leaning over a Smartphone or tablet is also causing increased neck and back pain, called “iPosture.” Leading a sedentary lifestyle can worsen back pain.
Some ways for women to remedy back pain include:
- Spend less time in front of screens: If you must spend a lot of time in front of screens, work on your posture.
- Be more active: Commit to getting up and moving, even if you are stuck at a desk all day
- Work on your core: Concentrate on core workouts, which will strengthen your abdominal muscles as well as back, side and pelvic muscles.
- Sleep on your side: Sleeping on your stomach puts pressure on your joints. Sleeping on your side keeps the spine in alignment. Make sure you have a good mattress. Ideally, it should not be too firm or too soft.
Keep moving: You may think that the best remedy for back pain is to rest up. On the contrary, it is more beneficial to do light, low-impact exercise. Too much rest can make your pain worse and increase stiffness.
Most lower back pain in women is caused by injury or an underlying condition. Back pain can be from a more serious condition such as a herniated disc, spinal stenosis or arthritis just to name a few. It is important to see a physician if you are having lingering back pain. Contact us or call our dedicated Medical Concierge at 800-890-1964 to learn more or set up an appointment.
