Back pain is very common. 8 out 10 people will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Possibly, because back pain is such a universal experience, many fictions as well as facts are available on the subject. In this article, we will examine fiction and fact. Then we'll talk about some proven cures.

Fictions

Slouching is bad for your back.

Actually, slouching is no worse than sitting straight. If you do either one for too long a time, it can strain your back.

Try standing frequently. Take breaks from sitting to move around.

Exercise is bad for back pain.

Whopper! Exercise is the best prevention and exercising through your back pain generally results in a quicker recovery.

Heavy lifting hurts your back.

Not true! It isn't how much you lift but how you lift it. Let your legs do the work and don't twist or bend your back as you lift.

Bed rest is the best cure for back pain.

So not true! Lying in bed can actually make the pain worse.

An extremely firm mattress is good for your back.

Fiction! Studies have shown that firmer mattresses lead to greater incidences of back pain.

Thin people don't suffer back pain.

False! 8 of 10 people will suffer back pain. Even though our obesity problem is growing (no pun intended) 8 of ten people are not obese!

Back pain is always the result of an injury.

Again, this is fiction. Back pain can be caused by disease, disc degeneration or genetic conditions. Mattress firmness is best decided by sleep habits.

Facts

Overweight people are at greater risk for back pain.

Quite true! Staying fit and maintaining core strength are great preventatives for back pain.

Chiropractic adjustments can relieve back pain.

Also true! Physicians support spinal manipulation or massage therapy to relieve back pain.

Acupuncture relieves back pain.

Again, true! Physicians support acupuncture therapy for back pain. Yoga and autogenic relaxation techniques are also recommended.

Now that we've dispelled some myths and pointed out some facts, what are some of the top methods available to relieve back pain?

As master of the obvious, I can tell you that preventative measures such as maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly to maintain your core strength are key steps you can take to avert the problem of back pain entirely.

Having said that, if you are struck with back pain I recommend the following:

First and foremost, assess your back pain and decide if it requires a doctor's attention or is it something you feel you can handle on your own.

Second, if you have decided on self-help, you have a limited number of techniques available to you and I recommend them in the following order of personal preference:

* Yoga - There are at least a dozen asanas (postures/exercises) recommended for back pain and many of them are described on various websites.

* Autogenic relaxation - Especially good if you attribute your back pain to tension and/or stress. These relaxation techniques can be ferreted out on the web as well.

Finally, follow through! Don't expect to recover overnight. Follow the regimen you choose until you achieve results or you are certain the technique you chose is not working. If one technique doesn't work for you, try the other. Perseverance is the key.