10 Facts About Back Pain

10 facts about back pain

Back pain is the world's leading cause of disability, often associated with costly and harmful care. Myths about her are widespread and supported by the media and doctors. Scientists have identified 10 myths and, based on them, published 10 facts about back pain.

Photo: pixabay.com /

Back pain is the world's leading cause of disability, often associated with costly and harmful care. Myths about her are widespread and supported by the media and doctors, the Australian researchers wrote in an editorial in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

This misinformation “can lead people to fear back pain and take actions that are not helpful. Myths often cause negative emotional reactions such as fear, stress and lack of hope,”said physical therapist Peter O'Sullivan, one of the authors of the publication.

Scientists have identified 10 myths and, based on them, published 10 facts about back pain.

1. Long-term back pain can be frightening, but it is rarely dangerous. It can be stressful and make life harder. But it is extremely rarely life-threatening and does not often confine people to a wheelchair.

2. Aging is not the cause of back pain. Research does not support this concept. Treatment can help at any age.

3. Long-term back pain is rarely associated with tissue damage. Usually, recovery from injuries and trauma occurs within three months. If the pain persists, then there are likely other factors that are causing it. Back pain often begins without injury or with completely normal movement. It can be associated with stress, fatigue, tension, low levels of activity, or unusual activity. These factors make the back sensitive to stress.

4. Scans rarely show the cause of back pain. It helps only a few. The results of the study can speak of many frightening things: protrusion, joint inflammation, degeneration, disc displacement. But research shows that such findings are not uncommon among people who do not have back pain. The data from these studies cannot always explain the severity of a person's condition.

5. Pain during exercise and movement does not mean that you are hurting yourself. With prolonged pain, the spine and surrounding tissues become more sensitive. Pain with movement often indicates how acutely the irritation is felt by the body, rather than the extent of damage. Therefore, it is normal to feel some pain when you start exercising. It may decrease over time as the body gets used to this activity. In fact, exercise and movement are essential methods of dealing with pain.

6. Back pain is not a consequence of improper posture. The variety of postures does not hurt the back. There is no need to be afraid to relax while performing routine activities.

7. Weak back muscles are also not the cause of pain. Muscle strength is very important, but constant muscle tension will not help against pain. Muscles need to be relaxed regularly.

8. It is difficult for the back to endure regular loads and flexion. Lifting weights makes your back stronger, and exercising and moving makes it healthier. The main thing is to build up the load gradually and train regularly.

9. Worsening pain does not mean that you have hurt your back. While flare-ups are troublesome, they are very rarely associated with tissue damage. To prevent exacerbations, you need to try to avoid lack of sleep, overexertion, stress, anxiety, bad mood, low activity and unusual stress. When flaring up, it is important to maintain a normal attitude and keep moving.

10. Injections, surgeries, and strong drugs usually do not cure. More precisely, they have no long-term effect. When using any method of treatment, you need to weigh its side effects.