Published on: 09-Dec-2022
More than 80 percent of us have experienced lower back pain at some time in our lives. Lower back pain is a sign that you may have strained yourself by lifting or doing an activity incorrectly. If you are an athlete, you are just as likely to experience pain in your lower back.
Warm Up to Prevent Pain
Both professional and amateur athletes are likely to experience back pain. When it comes to activities such as skiing, your back pain may be from a fall or just bending down and putting your skis on. It is important to remember that stretching and warming up prevent the majority of cases of lower back pain. But, what if it happens anyway? Your Back Pain Relief recommends if you are experiencing back pain anywhere in your back, diagnosis is the first step. Once you have been diagnosed, you can consult with your physician regarding a plan, as well as consider anti-inflammatory medications and physiotherapy.
Common Causes for Lower Back Pain
The most common cause of lower back pain is muscle strain. Sometimes no matter how diligent you are when it comes to warming up or stretching, you still pull or strain a muscle. If this happens, you need to make sure that you protect the relevant area.
Should you stop exercising? That depends on the severity of the injury. If it is less severe, there is no reason why you should not stay active. The right kind of activity can help us to recover faster from a muscle Injury.
When you have injured a muscle, microcirculation is important. Blood brings fresh oxygen to the area and speeds up recovery. Consider wearing a back support when you exercise. This will provide support to the affected area and prevent the injury from getting worse. The one time you do have to be careful is if you have broken any bones or damaged vertebrae in your lower back. If you have a skeletal injury listening to the advice of your doctor is vital.
Herniated discs are another common reason for lower back pain. In a worst-case scenario, you may need surgery. However, new techniques within physiotherapy and wearable supports have shown to be helpful.
Going Hot and Cold
Hot and cold treatments are successful when it comes to managing lower back pain. Most experts don’t recommend one or the other. When it comes to hot and cold treatments for any muscle injury, it seems that the jury is out. Most athletes find that hot and cold treatments work. On many occasions, switching between the two produces the best results. Ice is numbing and helps you to cope better with back pain. At the same time, it can stop spasms and reduce inflammation.
Hot treatments increase blood flow to the affected areas increasing oxygenation. We must not lose sight of the fact that oxygen is an essential antioxidant that quickly reduces inflammation. Cupping is another alternative remedy that is currently popular. It is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine and involves a specially designed cup on the skin. The practitioner looks at the skin’s reaction. If the skin under the cup is red, it indicates inflammation. How does it work? It is thought cupping may help to “draw out” inflammation and heat. Acupuncture may also help manage pain and reduce inflammation. It is interesting to note that the main objective of all of these remedies is to increase and stimulate circulation.
Exercise and Lower Back Painkillers
Can exercise help you manage lower back pain? The right kind of exercise certainly helps to manage and get rid of lower back pain. It has clearly been shown that certain types of back pain including sciatica improve rapidly when you exercise. Swimming in a warm pool is one way of helping you recover from back injuries. The gentle stretching movement of the backstroke helps a great deal. You may also want to consider taking part in aqua aerobics classes.
Walking also helps to reduce back pain especially in the lumbar part of the spine. Walk with your arms swinging or use Scandinavian walking poles. If you decide that walking sounds like the right therapy for you, it is a good idea to wear a back support.
Self-Help Therapies for Athletes
Most athletes are proactive and like to help themselves. Popular self-help therapies include herbalism, homeopathy, and foam rolling. Foam rolling is a practice that has gained popularity in recent years. You place a foam roller under the affected area and try to do a rolling action. If you find it hard to exercise using a foam roller, you can ask a partner to help you. It would seem that simply rolling the foam roller firmly over the affected area helps. Pressure needs to be applied but it appears to bring rapid improvement. Once again, it is a way of helping the body to heal itself.
Applying herbal topical remedies is another alternative. Many say that the athlete’s best friend is arnica. You can buy arnica in many different formats. The most popular ones are salves, gels, and massage oils.
Another herb you can try for self-help is rosemary. It is well-known that rosemary stimulates blood flow and helps with healing. Rosemary is available as a massage oil or lotion. It is a very warming remedy. Many athletes say they have noticed fast improvement.
Final Thoughts
More than anything, it is important to use a support while exercising. Wearing a support does not weaken the muscles, ligaments, or tendons and helps protect the injury. Finally, be sure to consult with a physician if your pain persists or worsens.
