It could be a dull ache in the lower back that occurs after a long period of sitting or getting out of the car. For some others, the pain is sharper and more intense, and comes on abruptly taking away their breath. With so many options for back pain therapy, how do you know what is the best option?

Why and how it happens, the presence of back pain is always an unpleasant experience. It is estimated that 85% of people will have at least one period of back pain in their lives. That high number is understandable once you know how the back is structured.

There are 24 small spinal bones that make up the spinal column. These bones basically sit on top of each other and are held in place by muscle, ligaments and tendons. The back is our central support holding the rest of our skeleton and always under the pressure of gravity.

The lower back is a very vulnerable area of the human body. Because of structural biomechanics it seems to be the fulcrum for many of our weight bearing activities. But it is also stressed in our everyday lives with simple activities like lifting, bending, twisting and sitting. If you also have poor muscles, weak posture and degenerated joints then it is no wonder you end up with back pain.

The good news is that lots of options exist for back pain therapy, along with this is that most issues of back pain are short lived and self resolve. Statistics show that 80 percent of back pain will get better with no treatment in 1 month. In a period of two months 90% of those cases will have resolved. But still 1-2 months is a long time, can back pain therapy can help speed this up.

It really depends on the cause. Usually a thorough medical history and physical examination will be performed by your medical doctor or therapist. X-rays are used to identify fractures, degenerative changes, or bony changes that happen with arthritis. Usually unless very obvious like a fracture, x-rays are not good at identifying the source of pain.

Usually the cause of back pain is a sprain or strain of a muscle or the joint of a back bone. This is usually the causative factor in most cases. Stopping any aggravating activity is vital. While still in pain, gentle walking is the best back pain therapy. This will keep the muscles and joints mobile and movement is a natural pain inhibitor. The application of some natural anti-inflammatory things such as devil's claw, fish oils and turmeric can be helpful. This can speed up the recovery process.

A common mistake about back pain therapy is how to rest the back. Resting the back is not lying in bed for days on end. It does mean ceasing any activities that may be aggravating your back such as twisting or heavy carrying. But studies have shown that resting too long in bed will result in weaker back muscles and more pain and harder recovery.

If you do a lot of sitting at your job, then make sure you have breaks every twenty minutes or so. Long sustained postures such as sitting are very bad for the lower back. Other examples can include driving. If you have any long car trips try to break them up to give your lower back a rest. When you start to feel better you can begin some core strength work such as pilates, this type of back pain therapy is great.