BACK PAIN
BACKACHE IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON DISORDERS TODAY. EVERY YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES ALONE AN ESTIMATED TWO MILLION NEW MEMBERS JOIN THE RANKS OF THE MULTITUDE OF SUFFERERS FROM CHRONIC BACK PAIN, WHILE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM THE SYNDROME IS SECOND ONLY TO BOUTS OF RESPIRATORY DISEASE (COLDS, FLU, BRONCHITIS , ETC). AS THE LEADING CAUSE OF LOST WORKING HOURS IN TRADE AND INDUSTRY. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT BETWEEN 50 PERCENT AND 60 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION WILL SUFFER FROM AN INCIDENT OF ACUTE OR MORE LONG-TERM BACK PAIN AT SOME STAGE DURING THEIR LIFE.
WHAT CAUSES BACKPAIN?
THIS QUESTION IS HOTLY DEBATED IN THERPEUTIC CIRCLES. HOWEVER, RECENT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THE MAJORITY OF BACKACHE ARE CAUSED SIMPLY BY MUSCULAR INSUFFICIENCY AND INADEQUATE FLEXIBILITY OF MUSCLES AND TENDONS. THIS CLEARLY CONTRACDICTS THE POPULAR PREVAILING BELIEF THAT A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF BACKACHE IS CAUSED BY SLIPPED DISC, ARTHRITIS AND DEGENERATIVE JOINT DISEASE, OR ORGANIC CONDITIONS SUCH AS BONE CAREER, PAGET'S DISEASE AND RICKETS.
THE MECHANISM OF COMMON BACKPAIN
THE MOST COMMON SITE OF BACKACHE IS THE LOWER BACK, FOLLOWED BY THE NECK AND THE REGION BETWEEN THE SHOULDER BLADES. THIS PAIN ARISES WHEN THE MUSCLES SURROUNDING AND SUPPORTING THE SPINAL COLUMN ARE HELD RIGIDLY AND UNCOMFORTABLY CONTRACTED OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THIS SITUATION COMMONLY ARISES FROM LONG HOURS IN UNCOMFORTABLE CAR SEATS AND OFFICE CHAIRS. WHEN THIS GOES ON DAY AFTER DAY, THE MUSCLES GRADUALLY TO INTO A STATE OF TIGHT PAINFUL SPASM WHICH BECOMES SEMI-PERMANENT, AS FIBROBLASTS INFILTRATE THE TROUBLESOME REGION, LAYING DOWN FABROUS TISSUES. THESE FIBROSED AREAS CAN BE READILY FELT AS DEEP HARDENED BANDS AND NODULES WITHIN THE TENDER BACK MUSCLES.
CHRONIC BACKACHE TENDS TO BE WORSE AT THE DAY'S END AND IS RELIEVED BY MASSAGE, HEAT, RELAXATION AND BED REST. IT RESPONDS READILY AND PERMANENTLY TO A PROGRAM OF YOGA ASANA AND RELAXATION AIMED AT INCREASING THE FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY OF THE WEAK MUSCLES.
RELIEF FROM BACKACHE
(YOGA PROGRAM)
THESE ASANA SHOULD BE PRACTICED FOR 15 TO 20 MINUTES EACH MORNING WITHOUT FAIL, FOLLOWED BY 10 TO 20 MINUTES IN SHAVASANA. THIS PROGRAM IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE FUNCTIONAL EFFICIENCY OF THE VARIOUS MUSCLE GROUPS RESPONSIBLE FOR BACK PAIN AND SHOULD BE LEARNED UNDER EXPERT GUIDANCE. REASSESS THE STATE OF YOUR BACK AND GENERAL HEALTH AFTER ONE MONTH.
- FOR LOWER BACK MUSCLES: ARDHA SHALABHASANA, USHTRASANA, MAKARASANA, BHUJANGASANA.
- FOR SHOULDERS AND UPPER BACK MUSCLES : WITH VISUALIZATION OF TIGHT, CONGESTED BACK MUSCLES RELAXING, LETTING GO OF TENSION AND FLUSHING THE AREA WITH FRESH BLOOD. PRANIC ENERGY IS VISUALIZED FLOWING INTO THE BACK MUSCLES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BREATH.
DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS
CORRECTION OF BACK PAIN IS FACILITATED WHEN A LIGHT VEGETARIAN DIET IS CONSUMED AND EXCESS WEIGHT IS REMOVED. CORRECTION OF CHRONIC CONSTIPATION OF OFTEN BRING SPONTANEOUS REMISSION OF BACK PAIN. IN THIS RESPECT THE OPTIMAL DIET CONSISTS OF WHOLE GRAINS, CHAPATIS OR WHOLEMEAL BREAD, PULSE, VEGETABLES (STEAMED, BOILED OR SALAD) , FRUITS, NUTS AND JUICES. AVOID EXCESSIVE SUGAR, MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS, OIL, MEAT AND SPICES.