Back pain occurs in the lower back and can be felt anywhere along the spine. According to the Office for National Statistics, almost 31 million work days were lost in the UK in 2016 due to musculoskeletal problems which include back pain. Exercising, stretching, yoga, swimming and pilates are all proven methods to help combat the pain. Sometimes the pain may be a result of an injury such as a sprain or strain. It could occur for no reason and you should speak with your doctor if it gets worse
Nearly everybody gets back pain at some point in their life
Martin Underwood, professor at Warwick medical school
Martin Underwood, professor at Warwick medical school said: “Nearly everybody gets back pain at some point in their life.
For most people, it’s a short-term episode that will resolve over a period of days or weeks, without the need for any specific treatment.
The office environment is a common place for the cause of back pain.
Many workers sit in awkward positions for long periods of time which will result in back pain. In a study in BMJ, 146 office workers based at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and looked at productivity of sitting vs standing.
The results showed improvements in job performance, work engagement, occupational fatigue and daily anxiety.
A way to combat the effect of sitting for long periods of time is using a standing desk which has been gaining in popularity in recent years.
In a recent study, it was found that the standing desk has been proven to increase energy levels and mood and reduce stress and fatigue.
Gregory Garrett, head author of the study said: “We began to see larger increases in productivity with the stand-capable groups as they became habituated to their standing desks.”
Other ways to help combat back pain:
- Better sleep
- Good posture
- Medication
- Physical therapy
- Ice and heat
Back pain is a many-faceted problem, emerging from your life situation, the state of your body and the social factors surrounding you.
It is unfortunately a part of life and the best approach is to keep physically active, manage stress.
There are more drastic ways to help decrease the pain levels felt in the back, methods such as hands on therapy, nerve stimulation, biofeedback, spinal injections or surgery.
It is advisable to speak with your doctor about what is the best method for you.
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