Pains in the lower back happen to most people at some point. Sedentary work days and hours on laptops and devices don't help. If you have sharp pains in the lower back, DON'T PANIC! Most of the time there are easy ways to relieve it.
Watch this video from The Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute to learn some simple lower back stretches that may help.
The quick answer is that prolonged sitting is one of the main reasons people get low back pain. Sitting typically places the low back in a position of flexion. This means that the pelvis slides forward in the seat and the lower back rounds forward.
Sitting posture is not an issue if you only sit occasionally during the day. But, if you sit all day or for long periods, the positions can place excessive abnormal stress on the discs in the lumbar spine or low back. The repetitive stress on the discs can lead to wear and tear on the disc and eventually produce pain in the back.
The best way to fix low back pain in sitting is to keep the spine in proper position and alignment. Here's how.
The quick answer is that driving is usually worse than sitting in a chair when it comes to lower back pain. Sitting in a car exaggerates the forward-flexion position and rounds the lower spine forward even more than a chair.
Here are some tips to try to help lower back pain while driving.
The quick answer is that sharp pains in the lower back mean that you probably have inflammation or an injury. Sharp pain is typically a symptom with there is a new issue that is very irritated. This can happen after a traumatic injury.
Sharp pain in the lower back may also happen due to muscle spasms. When there is irritation in a structure in the lower back, it is common to have muscle spasms around the area. The body triggers the muscle spasm as a protective response. But, spasms hurt!
There are lots of causes of pain in the low back. Some of those include:
Lower back issues can also cause Sciatica. Sciatica may include pain in the legs, buttocks, hips and lower back.
The quick answer is to identify what is causing the pain and stop doing it! Lots of times, it comes from sitting.
Rest and anti-inflammatory medications are typically used at first.
If you have an episode of low back pain, McKenzie Exercises may help. McKenzie Exercises often involve using repeated movements to extend the lower spine backward. Don't do these if they increase your symptoms or cause pain or other symptoms in the leg.
You should go to the doctor and/or physical therapy if:
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