Spinal issues (or more accurately back problems) are something that more than 80% of people can relate to, making it a subject that even the least medically knowledgeable person can speak about with some first-hand experience. The problem is rarely caused by a single event, but several bad habits that wear on the spine, or even because of several minor injuries that cause more severe pain. The article’s author devised categories to classify the types of injuries he has seen in his practice over the years.
- Repeated motions that access just a small part of the back can cause pain over time. For example, if you are carrying a heavy package while inline at the post office and decide to put it on the floor, you will probably push it with your foot until you reach the front of the line. That repeated motion with such a heavy object can cause a lot more stress on the sacroiliac joints, resulting in lower back pain.
- Repeated pulling motion of cords, such as lawn mowers, create an uneven pull, which can strain the upper back and bicep.
- Failing to properly warm up and stretch, particularly when starting a new hobby or activity, can hurt any part of your back, depending on what the activity is.
- Drying your hair vigorously with a towel can actually hurt your neck if you haven’t properly stretched your neck. The medical professional who wrote the article has seen people who injured their neck from this very simple activity because they dry their hair after a shower in the morning while their necks are still stiff.
- Suddenly doing something that you haven’t done in a long time, such as running during a rainstorm when you haven’t run in years, can cause injury for many parts of your body, including your back. The best way to avoid this is to do activities like occasionally running (at least a few times a year) because those sudden bursts are something that we all have to do from time to time – making sure that our bodies remain capable of it and to make it a part of our habits.
- Any pain or injury to the legs or feet almost always leads to back pain as we try to reduce the pain on one side, putting more stress and pressure on the other.
- Decorating the home is something that often leads to back problems as we stretch and move in ways that we only do a few times of year. The holidays are the most likely time for problems, but if you decorate for other holidays, be more careful and make sure to do warmups and stretches before engaging in the activity. Also, be more aware of how far you are stretching. Instead of stretching “just a little bit further,” move the ladder or ask for help instead of potentially harming yourself – that way you can enjoy the holiday without new back pain.
- A combination of all of these could create different types of pain, as well as making the pain more intense.
To read this enlightening article, check out ‘Why Is This Happening to Me?’ – On Spinal Problems, and All the Ways We Develop Them.