What helps relieve back pain?

Maybe you lifted something heavy or drove some 200 miles in your car without taking a break. Or maybe you've been stooped over a desk or computer for weeks, battling a deadline. Whatever the reason, now your back is "Ouch" and you're wishing for something, anything that will put an end to the agony that your back pain is putting you through.

Rest assured that you're not alone. Many other people in the general population suffer from back pain at some point in their life. The bad news is that unless you have a major injury resulting in ‘Severe back pain’ or disc problems, your medical doctor may not be able to do much for you other than prescribe some pain medication and advise you to rest. The good news is that by following some simple steps, you can be back in the swing of things in just a few days.

I quite often hear people say "I can't do this or that, as I suffer with back pain" that I think is a easy escape route for many. I can understand it if the back pin is associated with a serious injury or the Doctor has advised you to refrain from moving your back.

In most cases of back pain the above scenario is not the main reason, usually back pain is as a result of being lazy and inactive. In these situation a person suffering with back issues suffers more and longer by remaining inactive and allowing the pain to get worser,

The best option is to take up some back exercises and gradually increase that activity to more physical training that will help to strengthen the back muscles and also improve the person's general health.

If you are suffering from back pain you will realise how much discomfort it causes and if it continues for a while how it restricts your daily life. To relieve back pain by practicing exercises that can help you in relieving your lower back pain you must make sure that you do not suffer from severe back pain. Make sure your back pain is not from a major injury like a car crash or a fall. Check with your Doctor to rule out spinal trauma or ruptured disc. These injuries will almost always require rehabilitation in which case you must not d back exercise without medical advice and supervision.

Most common back pain is due to muscle strains or sprained ligaments and should heal within a month or so after you receive care from your doctor. Sometimes, back pain is the result of sitting or standing in one position for too long, and some good stretches may alleviate the pain. If you have determined that your back pain isn't the result of an illness or severe back injury, try a few of the following stretches.

The best form of recovery exercise for your back pain is to get out the house and start to do some slow walking, try walking to the local park explore the scenery and then walk back, do that regularly. Inactivity has been proven to make back pain worse for those who already suffer a bad back. You can start your recovery program with a brisk 30 minutes of daily walking.

Do stretches standing up, cross your arms in front of you with both your elbows bent and the hands resting on your forearms. Stand straight, maintain good posture and keep your hips aligned with your upper body. Rotate your body in one direction, while maintaining regular breathing, hold for 3 seconds and then rotate and hold in the other direction – do not over stretch in the starting sessions. During this stretch, keep your shoulders back but relaxed, your folded arms straight out in front of you and avoid tilting your hips forward.

Another simple back pain relieving exercise and to strengthen your back muscles is to lay on your back on top of a firm mattress, then bend your legs slowly at the hips and knees and flatten your back.

Hold this position for a count of 10 then release slowly. Repeat this procedure 5-10 times, building up the reps to 10-20 times. Incorporating these exercises into a daily fitness regime will gradually help to relieve back pain and help you regain control over that painful back.

If you day job involves sitting at a desk or driving long distances, I find it always better to take short walks and do some quick yoga stretches at regular intervals. This helps to free up joints and also stretch the back.

Avoid lifting heavy objects and try to lead a healthy active lifestyle. Living a healthy physically active life benefits your back and maintains your general health.