HEALTH AND FITNESS TIPS FOR ALL

By Amy M Chan

When treating back pain, it is important to consider first the factors that might have caused the problem. It is usually a result of various reasons ranging from poor sitting and sleeping posture to sports-related injury. Another factor to be considered is how serious the condition is. While a minor pain may last for 1 or 2 weeks, chronic back pain extends up to 4 weeks. Here are some basic back pain treatment methods you might find helpful.
Spine positioning is very important especially at night when you are sleeping and lying for eight hours. Mattresses that are too soft and cushiony may fail to support your back properly leading to a poor spine curvature. When this happens, you may find yourself waking up feeling aches all over your lower back. Solve this problem by replacing your mattress with a firmer one that will be capable of providing you perfect support while sleeping.
An obvious risk factor for chronic back pain is obesity. There are numerous cases of this health problem as a result of being overweight in the United States alone. Individuals who have weak hip, knee, and ankle muscles are especially at a higher risk since it is the muscle in the three body parts stated that help support the weight of the upper body. The best weight to overcome this problem is by either strengthening the support muscles or exercising to lose excess weight.
For treating back pains, heat therapy is found to be one of the most effective ways especially in reducing spasms. It can be applied both for acute and sub acute back pain and works by increasing the flow of blood to the affected area. Hot baths or heat wraps are two types of heat therapy that are often used by people with back aches since they are found to be very effective.
Aside from heat therapy, you can also try massage, which basically works in a similar way as the former. Most cases of back aches are a result of muscle spasms. By massaging these areas, you are allowing the muscles to relax, relieving them of tension due to tightening. Performing stretching exercises for the back may also do the trick.
Muscle relaxant and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also effective in alleviating back pains. However, for more serious cases related to lumbar disc herniation, scoliosis and the like, surgery is recommended.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_M_Chan

By Tiffany Blackden

If you are experiencing any form of chronic back pain, you may have lost hope of ever living without it. You may have visited several medical professionals, ended up with half a dozen prescriptions, no evident explanation for your pain (even after MRIs, CAT scans and X-Rays), and no long term relief.
Many clinical massage clients who are experiencing chronic muscle issues are shocked when they get significant relief from just one session of focused muscle and connective tissue work, because they feel like they tried everything that 'should have' worked. The problem is that, although the traditional specialist are highly skilled in their field, they don't really address your muscular health. In the five years in my twenties when I had excruciating, chronic low back pain, I visited an orthopedist, physical therapist, neurologist... had an MRI, and X-Rays, but they found technically no 'reason' for my pain, so they declared it a bulging disc and sent me home with a handful of prescriptions. I was healthy otherwise, and active until my constant back pain became too intense. I did not find relief until my pain had been a part of my EVERY DAY for FIVE years, when I had three deep tissue massages in two weeks. It was significantly relieved after just one, but by the third massage, the pain was COMPLETELY gone, and has not returned since 1998. Since then, I have run a marathon, carried and given birth naturally to two children, and been very active, with a career in bodywork, running a multi-therapist clinic.
Back pain is epidemic! WHY? Today's lifestyles create restrictions in our bodies, patterns of tight muscles that reduce our ability to move and create pain. If you don't know what you are doing everyday to cause these tension patterns, it can get tighter and tighter until it begins to hurt. The pain can be in the tight muscle, or where that muscle group creates tension. Basic anatomy: It *can* hurt due to the pressure from a continuous contraction in the muscle, or in an area where the tissue is restricted and stuck together. These types of issues can, and often do eventually squeeze the nerve that runs through it. You are NOT crazy.
We have heard from SO many people in pain. MANY of them share that their doctors implied the pain was 'in their heads'. This is horrifying to us! There can be other structures (bones, etc) which put pressure on a nerve, but VERY often chronic muscular tension patterns can be involved, particularly when a doctor can't find another reason in testing and imaging...because...(wait for it)...they can't see muscle tension on any common imaging device. Muscles take up a lot of volume in your body. To dismiss anything they can't see on an MRI or X-ray as psychosomatic is RIDICULOUS.
So this is what we've found to be typical causes of low back pain in the world today:
Chronic postural strain from working position, sleeping posture, or recreation activity.
That sounds simple, but changing some patterns can be very difficult. The positions you most want to look at in your experience, if you are experiencing chronic low back pain from working positions are:
Sitting for long periods of time is problematic for our muscles. This position shortens every muscle in your upper leg, that attaches to your pelvis. When you move to stand up, those shortened and 'stuck together' muscles end up pulling on those structures. One of the more troublesome postures in pulling your feet under your chair. I have to share with you that this is a hard one for me to be aware of, but it shortens your hamstrings to an extreme, and can eventually create quite a bit of tension running up into your back.
If your seated position of choice involves crossing your legs at the knee, the likelihood that the pain goes into your rump, and aches quite a bit along your sacrum is really high. The reason for that is that when you cross your legs, the pelvis gets twisted a bit, often straining the soft tissues around a joint (the sacroiliac joint). This was one of the areas I had very persistent aching, even after getting physical therapy and chiropractic care, until I learned what I could do about the pattern, stop some of the positions causing trouble, and learn to stretch out the issue.
Low back pain with muscular patterns from sleeping postures often involve sleeping with the legs bent to a deep angle. When the legs are bent, the muscles shorten over time, much like sitting. One of the less troublesome postures would be sleeping on your back, because it's structurally neutral. When you sleep on one side or on your stomach, it starts shortening different muscle groups and causing pressure on joints and general imbalance. With stomach sleepers, the low back pain pattern usually involves one leg pulled out to the side, sometimes with the knee above the hip. This shortens a twists a number of muscles, so that eventually, a position close to this one is the only one that feels comfortable!
The recreation patterns with low back pain usually does not seem like the primary cause of an issue. Often, individuals who may have pain in their knee when they run, but the pain is often related to the restriction caused by their sitting position at work for 8-10 hours a day, then when they try to recruit the muscles, they are restricted, and pull on the joints they support. Often when a chronic pain pattern is caused by a recreational activity, it's a repetitive strain, something someone does many days a week, or has an extreme position, requiring a posture out of 'the biomechanical norm'. An example of this would be cycling. Leaning over, holding the upper body in a stable position (mainly with muscles in the low back and upper legs), *while* pedaling and requiring a lot of power can certainly cause some repetitive strain issues.
A solution that can address these issues involves deep tissue massage work, in coordination with a particular kind of stretching, which works with the muscles AND the connective tissue in the area.
The specific component of the stretches involves holding the stretches longer than most people do. The reason for that is, muscle fibers keep contracting during a stretch, to keep you from stretching into a tear. This reflex usually relaxes after 45-60 seconds. When we hold our stretches for 90 seconds to 2 minutes, we finally get into the deeper muscle fibers, and the connective tissue that runs the full length of the muscles to the attachments of the muscle to the bones. In fact, when stretching for the full amount of time, it is not uncommon to feel the stretch 'creep' around the 45-60 second mark. You can almost mark it on a clock. It's quite an interesting experience. This seems to be why Yin Yoga is so helpful in helping people to unravel long time patterns. In a Yin Yoga class you are usually holding your postures for up to five minutes, and that, biologically, seems sufficient time to open up restricted tissue.
There is a bit more to the process of evaluating what patterns are causing or exacerbating muscle and connective tissue pain. However, we want you know that even if you've spent quite a bit of time in pain, and you've been told there is nothing wrong with you, or that your pain is 'in your head'...there is a very good chance that your muscle structure has been affected by years of postural strains and you can still find help! Don't lose hope that you can live a comfortable life again. Keep seeking help until you find someone with the right answer. I did, and I've had 12 years without my low back pain. The depression, frustration and life changes that naturally evolve from experiencing chronic pain can make you restrict your activities in life to a great degree, and isolate yourself. Please, keep looking until you find someone who has seen what you are dealing with, and has experienced success in finding solutions. I wish you the very best in your journey!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tiffany_Blackden

By Tiffany Blackden

Back pain has become so common, that in any room of a dozen people, you will typically find at LEAST three who have some kind of chronic back pain. Seriously, it's epidemic. What do we do in our lives, to have caused back pain to be so common?
The simple answer is: our sedentary lifestyles. Our muscles really need move regularly to stay healthy. We have a workforce that sits. Well, at least a large percentage of the country is sitting a lot. If we aren't sitting at work, very often we are *standing* in the same position for a long time, or in the case of someone like a mechanic, they are leaning over for long periods of time. Any position we HOLD for a long period of time makes changes to our muscle and connective tissue. In simple terms, when we are in holding patterns, our muscles, and all the soft tissue around it starts to stick together. When this happens, we start to reduce our normal ranges of motion, the pressure increases on areas adjacent to those muscles, and our nerves eventually start to receive messages of tension leading to more pressure and then pain.
To evaluate patterns, you can split our days into three sections: working, sleeping and recreation. Often the positions we are in for a long period of time are the most problematic. Recreation usually causes issues along the lines of repetitive strain injuries, as opposed to the holding patterns of being still. However, sleeping and work positions are held for hours and hours at a time. When the muscles and surrounding tissues are placed in a restricted position for a long period, it begins to shorten. Think of a rubber band that hasn't been stretched in a long time. It loses it's flexibility...our muscles get to the point where they are MUCH more comfortable in the shortened position. At that point, when you try to stretch the muscle out, it's very likely to feel sore.
The next step for the majority of people, and the step *I* took when I had pain was to go to a doctor. The first office I walked into was an orthopedist, then a neurologist, who referred me to a physical therapist, then I saw a few chiropractors. When I finally made it to a massage therapist, who understood my muscular pattern, FIVE YEARS later, I was beat down. You see, at that point I was 25. I had been active, but after 5 years of pain every day that isolated me, kept me from normal social situations and created a deep level of depression, I really had resigned myself to the fact that I was going to live with that pain forever. I had seen several professionals who, in my eyes, should have understood the patterns enough to tell me it was muscular. They had hundreds of thousands of dollars of education and years and years of practice behind them. Had they seriously not EVER seen this type of issue before? Considering the many people I've spoken to in the subsequent 12 years since I let go of my pain, I find it HIGHLY unlikely that I am the only one who ever walked into that office with that type of issue, or the only one they ever waved off with an, 'it's all in your head' comment. They all basically told me that I didn't have anything wrong, or more specifically, "90% of the population has a bulging disc to this small degree, and only 10% have pain". "There's nothing I can do for you, but offer you medication to manage the pain."
The reason I share that story, is that my GUESS is that if you are reading this article, you may have also had this type of experience. The truth is that most of these doctors are not trained in the kind of biomechanics that can evaluate these muscular patterns. It's not something they have in their 'tool box'. Part of the reason back pain is so common, is that most 'solutions' the doctors are placing on the table are related to what we call the 'flow chart medicine' plan...pharmaceutical to stronger pharmaceutical escalating to a scalpel. When the scalpel comes into play with a chronic muscular pattern, it can make the issue worse. Why? The scar tissue from surgery can create more pressure on nerves and restrictions in muscles.
If you want to alleviate chronically restricted muscular patterns, the secret recipe, generally, is to move! The more we move, through full ranges of motion, opening up the body to reduce restrictive patterns, and increase circulation, the better! Move more while you are working on the computer, sleep in a healthier position, exercise, and stretch. Allow your body to feed the muscles and soft tissue with the circulation that hasn't been able to get to those spots. Recognize that unraveling old patterns can take some time, but that 'quick fix' solutions are rarely that.
I wish you well on your journey!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tiffany_Blackden  

By David Pegg

Causes of Lower Back Pain
For many sufferers of lower back pain or lumbago there may not be any fundamental cause of the back problem. Back pain can occur because of damage, tension or inflammation in any part of its complex structure from the coccyx (tailbone) to the cervical joints (neck). The lower part of the back, often called the lumbar region or lumbar spine is a common site of back pain as it is often under constant pressure from supporting all of the body weight above. It's also at risk of further damage sometimes due to lifting heavy objects or making twisting movements as part of daily activities either in the workplace as part of occupational routine, or hobbies and pastimes such as gardening or golf.
Usually, back pain sufferers recover completely, by avoiding further strain to their lower back. Initial back treatment often comprises the application of heat and cold back pain therapy, or medication. If the back pain continues for more than a few days then it's wise to see your GP to seek advice on an effective back pain therapy regime and ensure that there are not more serious (although infrequent) underlying reasons for the back problem which could include-
Degenerative disc disease - where the discs in the spine gradually wear down
A fracture - maybe as the result of a fall or injury
Osteoarthritis - a wear-and-tear disease that can affect the spinal joints
Osteoporosis - where the bones lose density causing them to become weak, brittle and more likely to break
Rheumatoid arthritis - an inflammatory condition of the immune system leading to inflammation of joint linings and surrounding structures
Slipped disc - where a disc bulges to the point that it exerts pressure on the spinal nerves
Spinal stenosis - a condition where the spaces in the spine narrow restricting the nerves
Spondylolithesis - where one of the spinal bones slips out of position
Research has indicated that although some types of low back pain may be partly due to genetics (i.e a tendency to develop lower back pain or lumbar pain could be inherited from parents), it is often generally sparked off or aggravated by the following factors:-
Driving for long periods
What's happening here is not dissimilar to posture related conditions. Quite often it's a combination of adopting a 'slouch' behind the wheel where the spine is not in a natural 'at rest' position. Instead the lumbar region is being subjected to contortion and constricted movement, which can cause increased uneven pressures in the vertebral joints, and stress and tension in the surrounding muscles and ligaments. This can lead to lower back pain in drivers after long periods behind the wheel. In addition to this the driver is being subjected to 'whole body vibration' which occurs when the body is in contact with a surface that is oscillating e.g. car wheels over an uneven road surface or the vibrations from the vehicle engine. These vibrations are transferred through the body to the spine and soft tissues which in turn can cause damage and back pain. (Source: Magnusson ML, Pope MH, Wilder DG, Areskoug B. Are occupational drivers at an increased risk for developing musculoskeletal spine disorders?)
Lifting heavy objects
Applying unbalanced or excessively heavy loads on the spine can lead to back problems, either as an acute (short term) lower back pain or maybe potentially leading to chronic (long term) conditions in the future. Alternatively it might be caused by repetitively lifting lighter objects as part of our occupation. We all know the rules around the workplace. "Lift close to your body, keep the back and hips straight, bend the knees to lower the ground" etc but often we don't apply these rules to get the job done and it's only when the back pain kicks in do we sometimes revert to common sense application of the rules. It's important to be aware of the consequences
Poor posture
This might be caused by a number of factors such your 'normal'seated position in the workplace. These could include a poorly ergonomically designed pc workstation, or poorly designed work layout around a process. Initially this could cause stiffness in the facet joints of the lumbar region (These are the 'flat' plate like joints connecting the vertebrae.), with the surrounding muscles, overworking to stabilise this becoming irritated and inflamed thereby causing lower back or lumbar pain or sciatica Over prolonged periods poor postural position may also cause your vertebrae to apply uneven pressure on the discs in between possibly leading to a bulging disc or herniated disc, which again would cause long term back pain and discomfort for the sufferer.
Standing for long periods
It's estimated that an adult can be up to half an inch shorter in the evening than in the morning. That's because whilst a person is standing or upright throughout the day then gravity is constantly causing downwards pressure on the joints of the lower back and eventually this could lead to back pain or discomfort. It may be useful to do occasional stretches, or try to move around if you can, or sit down at opportune moments
Stress
There is an association between stress and back pain. Under stress, there is a tendency for muscles to tense, which has the effect of causing a reduction in blood flow to the surrounding tissue. This can lead to a build up of acidic waste e.g. lactic acid, which if not taken away by the blood flow can cause fatigue and pain. This lumbar pain, this in turn may cause further stress in a vicious circle
Twisting or bending awkwardly
A good example is the incidence of Lumbar pain in golfers which is a common condition due to the typical golf swing being such an unnatural and stressful movement, especially for weekend golfers employed in sedentary occupations. The Golf swing generates a considerable force which can cause muscular strain or even tears to occur in the muscle. In addition, when overstretching of the ligaments occurs, this can lead to ligamentous sprains. To try to reduce lumbar pain in golfers instructors often advise them to realign their swing to be more upright rather than sideways bending
Weight Issues
The spine will normally support the body's weight during normal activities. If a person is overweight or obese it follows that the spine is forced to assimilate the additional loads, which could lead to structural compromise and damage resulting in conditions such as sciatica. Another consequence of obesity is a reduction in exercise and conditioning resulting in decreased flexibility or mobility in the lower back, together with weak muscles in the lumbar region and pelvis, leading to posture issues resulting in lumbar pain. Being overweight or obese can significantly contribute to symptoms associated with the more conditions listed above. (Source: Eidelson SG. Aging and Exercise)
Remember - If back pain continues after a few days then consult your GP

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Pegg

By Jamie Simpson

Back pain is often caused by a rough night of sleep. The wrong kind of bedroom furniture can cause or greatly aggravate back pain. The type of mattress that you need will depend on what sort of back pain you have. Mattresses can vary in terms of softness and firmness. Some mattresses are flat while others are mechanized and can be adjusted. The material and way that the mattress is constructed will also be something to consider.
Construction
Most mattresses are constructed with either foam or coils. Foam mattresses are generally softer and conform more to the body than those made of coils. These coils can be twisted tightly to be firm or loosely to be soft. Some beds have more coils than others. More coils will allow for more support. Coil beds are generally firmer. Some people prefer to have a coil bed for the firmness but a soft top for comfort. While some mattresses come with a foam, down, or cotton top for softness, many aftermarket mattress toppers are available to buy and place on the bed separately.
Firm mattresses
Firmer mattresses will provide more support than softer ones. Firm mattresses are excellent for people who must sleep on their back, side, or in the fetal position. People with lower back pain usually prefer to sleep on their backs. Sufferers of osteoarthritis often prefer to sleep on their sides and should also purchase firm mattresses. People with certain forms of herniated lumbar disc will also feel more comfortable on a firmer mattress to help them sleep in the fetal position.
Soft mattresses
A softer mattress is better for a person who must sleep on his or her stomach. Sufferers with most forms of herniated lumbar disc will probably feel more comfortable sleeping on their stomach. Anyone with degenerative disc disease will also benefit by sleeping on a softer mattress which will alleviate stress on the joints. A pillow placed underneath the hips while sleeping on the stomach will also provide comfort in this case.
Adjustable beds
Adjustable beds can be folded in 2 or 3 places to allow you to sleep comfortably. Some people with lower back pain sleep better when their knees are elevated. This reduces stress on the lumbar (lower) region. Sufferers of spinal stenosis often feel better when sleeping in the fetal position. The fetal position can be replicated on an adjustable bed, allowing you to sleep on your back. Some beds are adjustable not by position, but by firmness. Some beds allow you to control the amount of air inside of it, allowing you to make it harder or softer. These beds are usually adjustable for both sides and are excellent for couples who require different levels of support.
These are good suggestions to follow when purchasing a mattress. Your budget will also dictate what sort of bed you can buy. A king-sized adjustable bed will cost much more than a twin-sized soft or medium firmness mattress. Take your time to really understand what pain you have and what the best positions are to alleviate it. Most stores have beds on display for you to lay on. Spend at least 20 minutes trying each bed to see what helps you sleep most comfortably. Take the time to understand what your needs are and do not be afraid to try out as many mattresses as possible.

By Astrid Ericson

Chronic back pain plagues millions. Students carry around 40 pound backpacks, while adults hunch over a computer monitor for eight or more hours a day. The familiar sound of mothers reminding their children not to slouch and keep their elbows off the table seems to have been left somewhere in the '50s. Instead, we kick back on the couch, watching TV or surfing the web while we eat. It's no surprise that so many Americans suffer from back pain.
Back pain can be caused by a multitude of things. If you have back pain, it's always best to see a doctor first. However, often the cure for back pain is simply a healthier lifestyle. We can't be surprised when our backs give out after forcing them to take on so much abuse. The back is meant to support the neck and head, while our abdominal muscles and quadriceps are usually meant to tackle the rest.
One question you can ask yourself if you're puzzled about your back is: how many sit-ups can you do? The lower the number, the less weight your stomach is supporting each time you bend over, lift something heavy, or even slouch. So, in most cases (not all, don't forget about your doctor), a painful back is a sign of bad posture and weak muscles.
To repair the damage done, it's best to do three things. The first being the one we all avoid the most: exercise. Exercise is the best way to build new muscles, such as sit-ups and lunges. If traditional exercises are too difficult, a weighted hula hoop is a wonderful way to build up your core muscles slowly.
Second, it's important to relax and repair the damaged muscles. You can do this with various back stretches, or by laying on a heated mat or biomat. In fact, doing both together is even better. Stretching helps both to strengthen muscles and alleviate pain, while heat therapy loosens the muscles, increases blood flow, and promotes faster healing.
Finally, it's important to get plenty of water. Eight cups a day is a minimum requirement. Any caffeinated or sugar based drinks, any exercise, or any excess heat that might make you perspire will increase the amount of water you need on a daily basis. Water helps to detoxify your body, replenishes the water in your cells, and speeds up every process your body undertakes, be it muscle building, repairing, etc.
The toughest thing to admit when it comes to back pain is that it's something we do to ourselves on a daily basis. The habit of slouching is a tough one to break. If you're experiencing back pain, don't panic, and don't force yourself to sit straight all day long and do 100 sit-ups a day. Start slowly. Sit on the ground with your back straight for one minute a day if that's what it takes to get started. Do a single sit-up, or 30 seconds on a hula hoop. Just lay on a biomat for a few weeks before you begin attempting stretches as well. Your back didn't begin hurting over night, and it won't stop overnight; however, with a little bit of effort, you can put a stop to back pain naturally, and put a stop to it for good.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Astrid_Ericson

By Jeffrey W Arnold

Orthopedic surgeons would never intentionally misdiagnose your spinal ailment, but without the latest tool to aid them in coming to a conclusion, this can happen. Don't take the risk of going through an unnecessary spinal surgery without knowing the best tools were used to come to this decision.

Three-dimensional models clearly illustrate the cervical spine, thoracic and lumbar regions in life form. This allows surgeons to accurately match findings from x-rays and other images to the actual source of your pain. Symptoms of many spinal conditions closely mimic the symptoms of others. Compression and pressing on nerves can result from stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal, as well as spondylitis, an inflammation of the vertebra. Similar symptoms do not mean the same treatment. While stenosis could require a laminectomy, removal of a portion of the spinal canal, spondylitis can be cured with less aggressive measures.

Lordosis and kyphosis, curvatures of the spine, can also affect nerves and cause pain in extremities. These conditions might be better cured with braces than with back surgery. Spondylosis, a degenerative form of spinal arthritis, would require yet another treatment. However, spinabifida, a birth defect in which the vertebra do not fully develop, needs surgical means to correct.

A spinal surgeon can utilize 3-D models to pre-plan surgery to avoid mistakes and risking spinal cord injury during surgery by helping target the precise area and ailment before surgery takes place. These models are the latest breakthrough in orthopedic medicine. If you suffer from a spinal injury, insist that your spinal surgeon has every available tool to plan your treatment.

Surgery is an expensive option for relief of pain. Worse yet is a second surgery because the first one was not successful or surgery was not the answer to begin with. Thousands of dollars can be saved merely by choosing the right tool in the beginning to determine the source of back pain and the correct cure. Don't rob yourself of money wasted on unnecessary surgery and time to recovery. Discuss a 3-D model with your surgeon long before making the decision to enter the operating room.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_W_Arnold

By Jerry Standefer

Have you ever wonder why your back hurts when driving for long distances or a long period of time? I have recently retired and I have noticed that when I drive for more than an hour or two my lower back really starts to hurt. I do get extra relief by removing my wallet from my back pocket because it feels like I am sitting on a rock which has been driven into my butt cheek! If you have ever experienced this then you need to see what is actually happening when you sit in your car seat.

Today's modern cars have got lower to the ground causing the seats inside the cars to also be lowered. What this does is take away the natural curvature of your spine away thus making you feel quite uncomfortable. Unfortunately even the so-called lumbar seats may help for short periods of time, but under long trips that take hours your rear feels like it has been clamped down to the seat, and let the back pain begin! No wonder it feels so good when you stop and get out of your car!

With our cars becoming lower and with our seats being tipped back it also causes pressure on the spine because we find ourselves looking at a 15 to 20 degree angle to see straight ahead, designers! Do you realize that sitting in this position actually causes our pelvis to roll back even causing more discomfort? Maybe they are just trying to keep us awake while driving; because I know back pain will keep you awake.

We can help to eliminate this type of back pain by sitting as close to the pedals as possible sitting with our arms bent slightly in a normal driving position, remember how we were taught, keep your hands at the 10 and 2 position on the steering wheel?

One way that I have found to help fight the back pain is to have a good lumbar support, you can even purchase one if your vehicle does not have one. Placing slight pressure on your lower back with the lumbar can help lessen your lower back pain. Another suggestion I have is especially if you take long journeys, is to stop occasionally or extend your trip to allow for traveling shorter distances. A word of caution when exiting your vehicle after driving for a long period of time, try not to bend or stretch because your back is more inclined to be injured because of extended sitting period.

I hope that I have given you some insight into why driving may cause back pain, and that you will use my advice to make your driving experience more enjoyable.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_Standefer