Do You Really Know The Weakest Part of Your Body?

The weakest part of the human body is the lower back. The lower back is prone to injury because it bears the weight of the upper body and is subject to twisting and bending motions. It is also the most common site of back pain¹.

Here are some ways to prevent lower back pain:

• Exercise regularly. Exercise can help keep your back strong and flexible. It can also help you maintain a healthy weight, which is important for preventing back pain¹.
• Maintain good posture. Poor posture can put unnecessary strain on your back muscles and ligaments. Try to sit and stand up straight¹.
• Lift heavy objects properly. When lifting heavy objects, bend your knees and keep your back straight. Avoid twisting your body while lifting¹.
• Sleep on a firm mattress. A mattress that is too soft can cause your spine to curve in an unnatural way, leading to back pain¹.
• Quit smoking. Smoking can reduce blood flow to the lower spine and cause the spinal discs to degenerate

Here are some exercises that can help strengthen your lower back:

• Bridges
• Drawing in
• Leg raises
• Supermans
• Partial curls

These exercises can help strengthen the muscles that support your lower back and reduce your risk of injury¹. You can find more information about these exercises and how to do them correctly on the following websites:

• Mayo Clinic
• Medical News Today
• Healthline

Here are some common causes of lower back pain:

• Strains or injuries to muscles or tendons in the back
• Arthritis
• Structural problems
• Disk injuries
• Nerve compression
• Osteoarthritis
• Degenerative disk disease
• Accident-related trauma
• Acute stress
• Kidney stones and infections
• Endometriosis
• Osteomyelitis or discitis
• Fibromyalgia

In some cases, back pain can be a sign of a serious problem such as a broken bone, cancer, or an infection¹. If you’re experiencing lower back pain, it’s important to see a doctor to determine the cause of your pain and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

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Symptoms of lower back pain can include:

• A dull, aching sensation in the lower back
• A stabbing or shooting pain that can radiate down the leg to the foot
• An inability to stand up straight without pain
• A decreased range of motion and reduced ability to flex the back
• Muscle spasms or tightness
• Sharp, tingling pain that starts in your lower back and travels down one leg (also known as sciatica)
• Pain that worsens with sitting and quickly improves while walking
• Pain that is noticeably worse in the morning¹

To diagnose lower back pain, your health care provider will examine your back and assess your ability to sit, stand, walk and lift your legs. They might also ask you to rate your pain on a scale of zero to 10 and talk to you about how your pain affects your daily activities¹.

There are several treatments for lower back pain. Some of these include:

• Self-care steps that may be helpful in some less serious cases:
  • Apply muscle relaxant ointments or sprays
  • Try resting the back for a while
  • Avoid heavy physical activities for a couple of days
  • Apply heat or cold compress – depending on what soothes the body
  • Try over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen
  • Avoid jerky or painful movements
  • Observe the pain location and intensity, whether the pain is constant or appears during certain activities like bending, stretching and such¹.
• See a doctor if you notice:
  • Persistent pain for over 72 hours
  • Recurrent pain
  • Spreading of pain to other regions like leg, arms or neck
  • Difficulty sleeping, sitting or disturbance in daily activities¹.
• See a doctor immediately if you notice:
  • Severe and unbearable pain
  • Injury
  • Other symptoms like fatigue, fever etc.¹

Your doctor might also prescribe stronger medications to relieve chronic lower back pain that isn’t helped by over-the-counter options. Antidepressants, narcotics such as codeine, and anticonvulsant drugs may be prescribed².

You can read more of such stories at Credible News and The Cheer News.