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Low Back Pain Stretching Exercises

Low back pain is one of the oldest occupational health problems in history and one of the most common causes of work-related complaints among adults. Over 15 million people see doctors each year for back pain problems. Back pain costs the economy over $25 billion each year.   For this reason, the back pain relief and muscle relaxant industries are growing by leaps and bounds.

Low back pain is a skeletal and muscular ailment that affects millions of people around the world. People who do a lot of manual labor have more lumbar problems than those who do not.  No wonder, construction workers are often diagnosed with low back pain. Untreated back problems can increase worker absenteeism and affect overall productivity. And even worse, it could be the cause of more serious health problems.

To determine the severity of lower back pain, you may use the following parameters to see how “bad” your back is:

• Acute Low back pain last less than 6 weeks
• Sub-Acute Low back pain between 6 and 12 weeks
• Chronic Low back pain persists for more than 12 weeks

The good news is that there are a variety of treatments for back pain.  One of the easiest ways to ease the aches is to use a muscle relaxant. Low back pain relief can be as easy as popping a pill.  However, it is important to get your doctor’s advice since medications for back pain are often doctor-prescribed and cannot be bought over the counter.

These are other helpful tips, procedures and strategies on back pain relief that you may want to consider:

• Apply a cold pack to the painful area for 5-10 minutes at time
• Use an heating pad on the painful area if the pain is still there within         a few days
• Protect your back. Avoid sudden turning or bending. Go on with your usual activities and try to avoid bed rest
• Get expert professional treatments
• Non-prescription Pain Medications
• Spinal Manipulation
• Get a massage
• Try acupuncture
• Traction treatments
• Biofeedback
• Back Belts and Corsets
• Injections into the back

Certainly, back pain relief goes beyond medication. Lower back pain may not be the result of a physical activity but rather something non-physical like stress.  The build-up of everyday stress can make your muscles tighten up and contribute to the slow but painful tension of the back or lumbar muscles. Self-hypnosis, meditation and guided imagery are also being promoted as tools or techniques to reduce the discomforts associated with lumbar ailments.  Back pain relief options can be expensive, depending on the specific technique prescribed by the therapist.

Back pain is serious enough to always consult a physician.  The back pain may be a symptom of other illnesses or health problems.