Treating Lower Back Pain: How Much Bed Rest Is Too Much
Back pain is one of the most common reasons why people visit a health care provider. The good news is that the pain often goes away on its own, and people usually recover in a week or two. Many people want to stay in bed when their back hurts. For many years, getting bed rest was the normal advice. But current studies recommend no bed rest at all and stress that staying in bed longer than 48 hours not only wont help but it may, in fact, actually delay your recovery. Heres why:
Staying in bed wont help you get better faster.If youre in terrible pain, lying down for a day to help ease the distress may seem like a good idea, but moderating your activities and staying active in a limited way is a more effective way to control your symptoms. Research suggests that if you can find comfortable positions and keep moving, you may not need bed rest at all.Research shows that:
- Lying down longer than a day or two day isnt helpful for relieving back pain.
- People can recover more quickly without any bed rest.
- The sooner you start moving, even a little bit, or return to activities such as walking, the faster you are likely to improve.
Who needs bed rest?Almost no one! The only people who might require time in bed are those with unstable spinal fractures awaiting surgery.
When should I see a health care provider?You should see your health care provider right away if:
- Heat or ice
- Ultrasound
- Manipulation
Check with your health care provider before starting an exercise program.
How Do I Relieve My Tight Hamstrings
The best way to relieve tight hamstrings is to stretch them. You can do this by laying on the ground with your legs straight out. Bend your right knee and raise your foot so its touching the back of your left thigh. Use one hand to pull the heel of your left foot towards you, while using the other hand to gently push down on the right knee. Hold for 30 seconds, then switch sides.
Spine Problems That Cause Back Stiffness
Up until here weve discussed some basic stretches and postural changes you can make to help relieve and prevent back stiffness. But what if the condition is deeper than muscular? Below is a list of some other common causes of tightness in your lower back.
- Herniated or ruptured discs: This is a flattening and bulging out or rupturing of the discs that sit between the vertebrae.
- Sciatica: This is a form of radiculopathy that involves compression of the sciatic nerve running down the back.
- Spinal stenosis: This is narrowing of the spinal column, which puts pressure on the nerves and spinal cord.
- Spondylolisthesis: This occurs when the vertebrae of the lower back come out of place and pinch nearby nerves.
- Arthritis: This is an inflammatory condition that affects joints throughout the body, including the back.
If the pain and stiffness lasts more than 3 to 4 week it may be from these conditions. Its best to discuss long-term or debilitating pain with a doctor who may recommend physical therapy, pain management therapies, or minimally-invasive treatments. Your doctor will guide you through the diagnosis, imaging, and treatment of these conditions based on the root cause of your back stiffness.
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Foam Roll Your Upper Back And Glutes
You can relieve tight back muscles with a foam roller. If you have upper back pain, you can do some thoracic extensions which will also work the muscles in the area. You can do some foam rolling work on your trapezius as well as your lats. All of these muscles can contribute to upper back pain and need to be taking care of. Once again, you should check out my ebook, The Ultimate Self Massage Guide for more information on how to help your own pain at home.
If you suffer from lower back pain, make sure you attack the glutes with your foam roller. the same reason as the tennis ball, you need them at optimal function to help your lower back take a load off. Tight and stressed glutes mean a lower back that is working pretty hard. Foam roll the area and make sure that you are getting some relief.
Lower Back And Buttock Pain Relief
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Lower back and buttock pain relief is pretty simple to achieve
Just follow along with the videos.
Go directly to any Lower Back and Buttock Pain Relief video on this page with these links:
*Please Watch This Short Video First. Thanks.
Please visit the techniques page now, if you haven’t already.
On the homepage I describein detailthe 3 Simple Steps and the 4 Basic Facts about your body that make it possible for you to provide your own joint pain relief.
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Lying Static Leg Raise
The lying static leg raise helps with the lower back by placing more pressure on the back from a vertical standpoint. You will find this to be very comfortable and relieving. If youve had a tough day at work and your back is aching a bit, have yourself do the lying static leg raise for 15 to 20 minutes.
How To Stretch Tight Lower Back
Do you wake up with a tight lower back every morning? Have you been told that your spine is too stiff and that you need to stretch more? If its time for you to take better care of your body, then read on.
We have a list of useful stretches that will help soothe your aching muscles and increase mobility in your spine.
-Sitting is the main culprit in most lower back pain cases. Its also one of the things you can do to prevent it! Sitting for prolonged periods of time will cause pressure on different joints, which then leads to stiffness. Try getting up every 2030 minutes during
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Yoga Poses To Relieve Lower Back Pain
The lower back is a sensitive spot for many people. While there can be a ton of causes of lower back pain, a weak core and poor posture from sitting all day are two really common contributing factors to lower back aches and discomfort. It’s always important to figure out what’s causing pain so you can address it and prevent it from happening again. But in most situations, doing some gentle yoga can help relieve tightness and give your lower back some relief.
“Yoga is great for working on flexibility and core stability, correcting posture, and breathingall of which are necessary for a healthy back,”Sasha Cyrelson, P.T., D.P.T., O.C.S., clinical director at Professional Physical Therapy in Sicklerville, New Jersey, tells SELF. She adds that yoga is safe to do daily. It’s important, though, to make sure you’re in tune with your body and stop doing anything that makes your discomfort worse. “Never stretch into a position of pain. Pain is how our bodies tell us something is wrong. If it actually hurts, ease up on the stretch.”
If you have any history of lower back injuries, problems with your discs, or experience pain that lasts more than 72 hours without improving, Cyrelson suggests seeing a physical therapist before doing any exercises. If you have an issue that requires medical attention, it’s best to address it before it becomes worse.
Start These 2 Simple But Very Effective Exercises Now
What you can do now at this point is to practice these 2 simple exercises. They are among many specific and targeted exercises from the eBook which are the Seated Twist and the Lying Twist. They will help you both to loosen, strengthen and stabilize your spine, making it much easier for you to turn and reach to avoid triggering another spasm.
Reducing your back spasms will also reduce muscle guarding, a major factor which causes many to suffer from recurring pain in the morning.
The Seated and Lying Twist exercises help to release tight, lower back muscles which can fatigue and trigger a spasm. If you suffer from them, you may find that even these simple movements can be difficult to execute in full range.
As with all exercises, dont force yourself to perform the full stretch right away. You may cause more pain by doing this. Work your way up one degree or inch at a time very slowly over several days. Remember, your body is NOT accustomed to such movement.
It is common to trigger yourself by reaching or moving in a twisted position due to excessive tightness. They can strike during even the most mundane and simple of action such as reaching for a pen on the floor. These exercises help you to improve these tight areas to protect you.
- Dont Bend and Lift the Wrong Way. Try a Safer Way to Lift.
STRETCH AND STRENGTHEN THE MUSCLES THAT ARE PRONE TO SPASM WHILE CONDITIONING THE CORE MUSCLES THAT PROTECT YOU
Back spasms are NOT a quick fix problem.
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Lower Back Stretches To Combat Tightness And Pain
Sink into one of these poses to release those muscles.
Lower back pain is, unfortunately, very common.
Just about everything from bad form in the gym to poor posture to genetics can lead to discomfort in the lower back. One of most common causes of lower back pain is that we simply sit too much.
According to a study conducted by professors at Utica College and presented at the annual Applied Ergonomics Conference in 2015, the pelvis tilts forward when we sit, compromising our spinal posture.
Additionally, the hamstrings and hip flexors tighten as a result of lack of movement.
The hamstrings are three muscles that run along the back of our thighs. They attach to the ischial tuberosity region in our lower pelvis .
Often times, when theres lower back pain, youre typically experiencing tightness in the hamstrings or the glutes. So, always look there first, says Aaptiv trainer Jade Alexis.
Tightened muscles plus improper spinal posture equals lower back pain. To help you loosen up and release tight lower back muscles and more, we talked to Alexis and Aaptiv trainer Ceasar F. Barajas to learn their go-to lower back stretches.
Support Your Body In A Warm Pool
The buoyancy of the water lets you enjoy the benefits of exercise with less pain. Exercising in water also helps regulate the functioning of nerves and muscles, relieving pain.14
If you prefer warmer pools, look into water exercise classes and hydrotherapy pools. Water therapy exercises are often done in water that is about 83 degrees to 88 degrees. Hydrotherapy pool temperatures are often more than 90 degrees.
See Water Therapy Exercise Program
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How To Relieve Lower Back Stiffness
Lower back stiffness is a common ailment that affects people every day. The human body was not made to sit in one spot for long periods of time, so when prolonged sitting occurs, it can lead to back pain, leg pain, and stiffness.
Here are five tips to help with lower back stiffness:
-Standing up periodically throughout the day will increase your circulation and alleviate tenseness in your muscles.
-Arm cranes are a great exercise to help strengthen your lower back and improve flexibility.
-Using an apparatus such as the ball, roll and box will increase and promote circulation in all parts of your body while also strengthening muscle groups that support low back health: inner thigh muscles and your lower back.
-When lying down, make sure to support your stomach with a pillow or other contoured item so that it doesnt drop low enough for you to fall asleep.
This will improve the tone of muscles in your abdomen while also relieving tension throughout your entire body
Back Pain Relief With New York Pain Care
Physical therapy and spinal manipulation are two of the most effective treatments to relieve lower back pain. Here at New York Pain Care, we understand that patients want to experience relief so they may return to their daily routines quickly. Our board-certified specialists are here to provide one-on-one care and state-of-the-art treatments for all of our patients.
Start living a pain-free life by consulting with a physical therapist at New York Pain Care today. Learn more about our different services for spine and pain by visiting our website. Call us at now to book an appointment.
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Stretch Your Hamstrings Twice Daily
One often overlooked contributor to lower back pain is tight hamstrings. If your hamstring muscleslocated in the back of your thighsare too tight hamstrings your lower back and sacroiliac joints will be stressed, leading to more pain. Hamstring stretching should be done carefully and at least twice per day for 15-30 seconds each time.
There are many gentle stretching exercises that should not hurt.
Watch:Wall Hamstring Stretch for Low Back Pain Relief Video
You May Need To See Your Doctor For These Potential Underlying Illnesses
Dont just treat a back spasm as temporary discomfort. It may not merely be muscular in nature as they are often a big warning sign.
There may be something more serious that you are not aware of. This may be what your body could be reacting to.
In cases where treatment does not help, it is possible that you may have a disc issue such and a bulge or herniated disc. It is important to know when you should see a doctor to diagnose any serious injury that may be an underlying cause.
- Herniated Disc
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How To Release Lower Back Tension
Do you feel like your lower back is constantly in tension and it never relaxes? Do you need to take a break from work because your lower back hurts so much that you cant stand up straight? Having problems with your low back can be caused by many things, such as sitting for extended periods of time, waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, or even just running around too much.
The following exercises will help relieve tension in your lower back and make you feel better overall.
This is one way you can help improve overall flexibility in your lower back area.
Your Brain Onthis Is Your Brain On Yoga
As a yoga instructor, I have a few favorite stretches for the hips and theyre not just my favorites because they feel good theyre extremely functional and work the hip from all angles. Frangiamore is also a fan of these yoga poses. Stretches like the pigeon pose, warrior 1 and groin stretches all work to lengthen muscles that attach around the hip joint , which become shortened after prolonged sitting or resting, he says. Lengthening these muscles can decrease tension and excessive pull on the hips and lower back which can improve posture and decrease associated pain.
Ready to get loose? Give these three stretches a try.
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Core Stability Pelvic Tilt
Lack of core control and stability is a key player in lower back pain. When the abdominal muscles are not performing, the muscles of the lumbar spine have to work harder to stabilize the body in balance. An excellent way to improve core stability is to lie flat with the knees bent up. Tighten abdominal muscles and press the small of the back into the floor. Hold this contraction for 10 seconds and repeat 10-20 times. You can either have your arms resting by your sides or behind your head, depending on whats more comfortable. With this stretch, it is important remember:
- Keep your feet flat on the floor
- Keep your shoulders pressed to the floor, but relaxed
- Do not hold your breath as you perform this exercise
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While lower back pain is extremely common, it is not something you have to live with every day. Improving hip flexibility and core stability as well as lengthening the back muscles by stretching can help reduce the symptoms of lower back pain. However, if your back pain is chronic, the above stretches may help but additional treatment may be warranted.
Common Causes Of Stiff Back And How To Get Relief
80% of the population will experience a back problem at some point in their lives. Low back pain is the single leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the Global Burden of Disease 2010. Fortunately, most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic, meaning they are not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture, or cancer. There are many who have pulled a back muscle in their lifetime by simply doing a daily activity. The back is a complicated structure of bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles. You can sprain ligaments, strain muscles, rupture discs, compress nerves, and irritate joints – all of which can lead to back pain. While sports injuries or accidents can cause back pain, sometimes the simplest of movements can have painful results. In addition, risk factors such as arthritis, poor posture, sleeping position, obesity, and psychological stress can cause or complicate back pain.
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