Lower back pain may arise due to some injury of the back, arthritis, wrong posture, etc. The following article provides information about the various tips to reduce this pain.

Ligaments, facet joints, and the sacroiliac joints when misused or injured, usually cause pain in the lower back. Herniated disc, osteoarthritis (joint degeneration), spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, fractures of the vertebrae, and spinal deformities also develop pressure on the nerve roots, which ultimately lead to back pain. Other causes which are less common include ankylosing spondylitis, bacterial infection, spinal tumorspaget's disease, and scheuermann's disease. Lower back pain can be of two types: acute and chronic. The former lasts from a few days to a few weeks, and is generally a short-term pain. Chronic pain, on the other hand, may persist for more than three months and is accompanied by progressive pain that may occasionally flare up or lessen in intensity. People belonging to all age groups are affected by such back problems; especially those who fall between 30-50 years of age.

Tips to Relieve Pain In the Lower Back

Exercises are usually the first recommendation for an affected person. Activities such as aerobics, strengthening exercise, and stretching exercise work effectively in reducing and preventing lower back pain. Aerobic exercises help condition the heart and other muscles, and initiates speedy recovery. The strengthening exercises are targeted around the back, stomach, and leg muscles; in short towards strengthening the lower back muscles. The more flexible the muscles and other supporting tissues are, the less prone the person will be to injury and pain.

Exercises such as straight leg sit-ups, bent leg sit-ups, leg lifts, standing military press or bicep curls, and touching your toe while standing tends to aggravate back pain. Thus, these exercises must be avoided.

Another natural method to relieve back pain is acupuncture. According to the Chinese acupuncturists, pain in the body is caused when the energy is blocked along the energy pathways. This blocked energy is unblocked by acupuncture needles that are inserted along these pathways. Acupuncture also sends signals that help calm the central nervous system, and hence reduce the pain.

Apart from this, there are certain products such as belts to support the muscles, pillows for more comfort while sleeping, and neck supports that can be attached to a chair or driving seat. They are designed to manage back pain. Other products like soft wedges that are designed to rest the knees and foam pillows that keep the knees separate, help reduce the stress on the back. Also, there are special soles which can be used in shoes and sandals to help reduce the back pain. These soles have specific pressure points that ease the pain while walking.

Also, relief spray, tablets, capsules, etc. can be purchased over-the-counter or with prescription from the doctor.