Nearly 80% of Americans will suffer from back pain at some point during there lifetime, and over 50 million Americans will suffer from back pain this year. Lower back pain is the single leading case of disability worldwide. In this article we will discuss the benefits of wearing a back brace, along with what causes back pain.
What Causes Back Pain
The back is a complicated segment of our body filled with muscles, ligaments, joints, nerves and bones. With such a vast interconnecting network, there is no surprise that our back is highly susceptible to injury. In this section we will look into the most common causes of back pain
Strained muscles and ligaments of the back are the most common causes of back pain. Muscle and ligament strains can be causes by everyday activities like;
- Lifting something improperly
- Lifting something that is too heavy
- The result of an abrupt and awkward movement
- Bending awkwardly
- Pushing something
- Pulling something
- Carrying something
- Lifting something
- Standing for long periods
- Bending down for long periods
- Twisting
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Muscle tension
- Over-stretching
- Sitting in a hunched position for long periods (e.g. when driving)
- Long driving sessions without a break (even when not hunched).
While strained back muscles and ligaments can be extremely painful, the injury should heel on its own in 1-3 weeks, and in most cases in only a couple days. A far more severe cause of back pain may be categorized as structural. Causes of structural back pain include;
- Ruptured disks
- Bulging disks
- Sciatica
- Arthritis
- Abnormal curvature of the spine
- Osteoporosis
- Spondylosis
- Degeneration disc
- Spinal Stenosis
Causes for structural back pain are much more severe and will not heel on there own.
Benefits Of Wearing a Back Brace or Support
Back brace’s offer many benefits to individuals when worn properly. A back brace can help to relieve pain, promote recovery, reduce risk of injury, and promote proper poster.
Relieve Pain
Nearly all individuals that suffer from a back aliment will suffer from pain. This pain is usually exacerbated when certain movements and positions stress the affected area of the back. A back brace will limit movements allowing the affected area to heal. A back brace will also alleviate pain symptoms by compressing the abdomen, which helps to unload the intervertebral, and vertebrae discs. An added benefit of wearing a back brace, is by reducing back pain you will have less need to take harmful pain medication. By reducing your dependence on pain medication to relieve your back pain, you will reduce harmful side effects, and save money.
Immobilization
Many spinal conditions require the back to be immobilized for a period of time following a traumatic injury or surgery. A back brace will immobilization the back which limits the motion at the site of the injury, allowing the injured area to heal. Without immobilizing the injured area with a back brace you may inadvertently re-injure the affected area during daily activities. When choosing a back brace for immobilization it is extremely important to choose a design that limits a variety of motions including rotation, extension, and flexion.
Non Invasive Treatment
For many people suffering from severe back pain invasive treatments such as surgery and nerve blocks may be required. However non-invasive treatments such as wearing a back brace may be prescribed by your doctor as an alternative to surgery. The non-invasive treatment is specifically appealing to individuals who do not wish to undergo a back surgery.
There are many benefits of wearing a back brace, but before you choose to wear a back brace or support you should also talk to your doctor first.