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That sharp shooting pain in your lower back from slouching in your office chair shouldn’t be ignored any longer! It’s time you straightened your back, put down that coffee cup, and learn about how you can help yourself and your lower back. Lower back pain can be caused by a number of problems with any parts of the complex and interconnected network of spinal muscles, bones, discs, or tendons in the lumbar system. The lumbar system is a region of the lower back which starts just below the ribcage and ends at the pelvic region. Lower back pain is one of the most common causes for missed work and affects 31 million Americans at any given time. Up to 85% of working individuals can expect to experience this pain during their lifetime.
Lower back pain can result from a number of things, including: being overweight or inactive, tasks related to your job (sitting too long, lifting or pulling objects), the use of over-stuffed purses or bags, improper gym workouts, your posture (how many times did your mom tell you to “sit up straight!”?), injuries (especially in the spinal discs), or chronic conditions like spinal stenosis.
Lower back pain, especially in less severe cases, can usually heal on its own, but there are many things you can do to speed up the process. Aside from using heating pads, taking warm baths, massage therapy, medications, injections, or acupuncture, there are many online articles describing exercises you can do to help relieve your lower back pain, but not all are evidence-based and backed by medical studies.
