Lower backpain can be extremely uncomfortably, although rarely serious if only for short periods. The most common cause is muscle strain associated with heavy physical work, lifting, bending and twisting. It is usually experiences as sudden, sharp, persistent, or dull pain. It is always advisable to get a medical check-up if the pain persists for more than a few days following rest. A thorough examination will assess your medical history, posture, the range of spinal movement and possibly a neurological test to determine the state of your reflexes.

Some Questions They May Not Ask In An
Examination For Your Lower Backpain

How old is your mattress? If yours is worn out your lower back may not be getting the support it needs. Your condition may be easily and quickly resolved by changing it. The latest development in mattress technology is memory foam, an incredible material designed by NASA, that will mold to your body shape giving you the best support possible.

For more information and advice on how to choose one please click here



Have you ever been asked at a treatment or examination if you know the location of you hips joints? Sounds a bit odd doesn't it! But in many cases of lower backpain it can be a tremendous help and once you can learn to move from the most appropriate places. The amount of stress on the lower back can be reduced dramatically once you move as nature intended.

Poor posture is recognised as a factor in lower backpain, but why do so many adults suffer from it - some studies estimate 80%! Modern life presents us with many pressures - work, finances and spending long hours sitting at desks or in cars. This sort of lifestyle for most adults leads to an increase in muscle tension resulting in the familiar neck, shoulder and backpains and other general aches and pains. Ultimately it will change your body dynamics and alter the way you move. Take my body awareness test and check the level of your knowledge and see if it may be harming your movement. You may also want to try my instant biomechanics test to assess whether your concept of movement may be a factor in your lower backpain.

For more on this theory see cause of lower back pain


How you sit and move may be a factor in you lower backpain

Habits you are probably unaware of will influence the way you move and your concept of how you body works. The body awareness and biomechanics test may have highlighted a few things you did not know about your body.

You may now like to try my ultimate fitness test its not what you think. Due to the nature of habit it can be difficult changing them but it is not impossible.

A course in re-education can help to correct your body concept and get you moving as nature intended again. Some exercises may help but they will not change your habits associated with standing, sitting and moving - these may well be the cause for your lower backpain.

Yoga and tai chi can be very effective re-education methods and there are many recorded cases of how they help with back conditions.

Improve your posture without exercise with my program

Exercises to improve posture are popular but as yet unproven. Some studies even report they can cause more problems than they solve. My program does not use exercises but a few procedures that will help you to sit, stand and move easier by relearning how to use your body with less effort. Your lower backpain can be relieved by improving your shape.

In my view, both from a past back pain sufferer and now as a professional, one of the best methods to change your habits is The Alexander Technique. It is one of the few disciplines that recognises the role and nature of habit in lower backpain and many other general disorders. Until your concepts and habits relating to your movement changes, your condition will stay untouched.

To return to the question of the location of your hip joints click here

Try my Fit for Life Program
Everyone will tell you that the best thing for your back is to keep moving. But what if even a small amount of activity causes you more pain? My program will show you how to move to reduce the stress on your back and joints. Learn to use your body how nature intended it to move and physical activity becomes fun again.

Back Pain, The Driver And The Mechanic

A man takes his car to a garage with a faulty gearbox. The mechanic identifies the fault and replaces a number of components. A few months later the man returns with the same problem, so again the mechanic replaces the suspect parts.

Not long afterwards the same car is towed into the garage after a breakdown. The mechanic assumes there must be a design fault with this model but cannot recall seeing many similar faults. If the design was suspect then everyone would have the same problem, therefore it must be something the driver is doing wrong. He replaces the gearbox and asks the driver if he could accompany him on a drive. The mechanic notices how poorly the man drives the car particularly when changing gear. He suggests to the driver that a few lessons might help to improve his habits. The driver follows this advice and eventually the problems with the gearbox cease.

He did not learn to drive like this. His bad habits developed gradually due to lack of attention to his driving whilst pre-occupied with other matters. He had never been a passenger to observe how other people drive. The mechanic could not identify the root of the problem by just looking at the car - he had to observe the driver and car in action to diagnose the cause.

We know that habits can be harmful to health. The end result of more obvious habits such as smoking and over-eating are easy to see.

But what about the habits we do not know we have? Applying excessive effort to everything we do can be just as damaging. Your lower backpain may be due to your driving habits.

General back pain and exercise
Is your back hurting you, or are you hurting your back. More recent studies are suggesting coordination is more important than muscle strength. If muscles are not working when they should be it could be causing more problems that lower backpain.

Re-learn poise as an answer to lower backpain
Poise is the forgotten art. Rather than think about your posture if you can regain your poise it will take of itself.

Exercise and lower backpain
I don't use repetitive exercises that may not ultimately help your lower backpain. My programs use natural movements to encourage good coordination by removing inappropriate muscle habits.

Posture and your back
Were you told to sit up or stand up straight as a child? You may have started to develop poor postural habits back then. You really don't have to do it. Your innate reflexes, when allowed to function, will do it for you.

Take a look at my free program samples My programs do not use exercises that contain movements that look nothing like natural actions. Download a free sample and see what you think.

Is core stability an answer?
Although many therapist will recommend core work for lower backpain, a number of back specialists believe it is not the answer. But could they also be storing up problems for the future?

Recommended Further Reading

The Alexander Technique
by Wilfred Barlow
A classic text on the world reknown Alexander Technique by one its leading teachers. Detailed explanations about issues related to posture and your health.

The Art of Swimming
by Steven Shaw
Many therapist recommend exercise for lower backpain. This excellent book will show you how to swim without putting stress on your body. Learn to move freely in the water with the Shaw Method.

US visitors can order from the Amazon.com.



UK visitors can order from Amazon.co.uk

Want to ask a question? My view of what fitness means and how it can be attained is different to the conventional approach. If there is anything on this page that you would like to follow up please feel free to contact me

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