A strong back is a heathy back…

Arm yourself with the information to help beat back pain for good…

Back pain generally rights itself whether you intervene or not. It can be troubling, because the intensity of the pain often does not proportionately correlate to the damage or problem. Many people will not manage back pain efficiently because they are given the wrong information or advice which fuels fear or sensitivity. So let’s slay some myths about back pain and discuss some positive ways to implement strategies to help manage back pain.

Stretching helps relieve back pain…

Historically, general advice would have been stretch the area. However, recent research has inferred that those who have MORE movement in their backs have been shown to be at greater risk of having future problems. Back’s LOVE stability, so instead of stretching your back, stabilise and strengthen it through exercises like Pilates.

Bed rest is the solution…

Exercise is your best offence to help manage back pain. Providing you are choosing the right type of exercises, it is safe and proactive. Evidence suggests that staying active and returning to usual activities plays a huge role in your recovery and prevents future episodes. In contrast, extended bed rest is associated with greater levels of fear, pain, anxiety which can lead to a poor recovery.

I am in agony… I must have done some serious damage…

Almost everyone in their life will experience back pain. It is totally normal. What is not normal, is NOT recovering from back pain. Often the pain comes as a result of poor movement patterns or a specific trauma and the prognosis is generally excellent. People normally report significant improvements within 2 weeks and full recovery within 12 weeks. Stressing about the discomfort can exacerbate painful symptoms and fuel anxiety about movement. Staying positive and relaxed and moving as normally as possible will calm your back down and remind it how strong and capable it is!

Painkillers are the solution…

Contrary to popular belief, studies indicate that painkillers are no more effective than a placebo pill for managing back pain. Ineffective and not ideal over a prolonged period, tempting as it may seem, put the pills down and instead opt for exercise based therapy.

Surgery is rarely required….

A tiny portion of people who suffer with back pain require surgical intervention. In fact, the results of spinal surgery are often no better than non surgical based therapy in the medium to long term. So before hastily jumping under the knife, explore other avenues first. Commit to a 12 week course of Pilates or strength training to see how it affects your pain and coping mechanisms for the positive.

My MRI showed damage, I must have a big problem…

The presence of an abnormality does not necessarily mean you will experience pain. In a famous study, MRI’s were performed on test cases who reported no back pain. Over 50 % of the subjects showed disc abnormality even though they were not experiencing painful symptoms. This would indicate, that disc bulges or abnormalities are quite normal and often coincidental. This is not disc disease (or any other scary name) , this is normal ageing, just like the wrinkles on our faces.