Back Pain advice

There is a long list of factors which can cause or contribute to back pain, including lack of physical activity, bad posture, obesity, stress or heavy lifting.

Four in five people will experience back pain at some stage in their life and around five million people in the UK visiting their GP due to musculoskeletal disorders every year according to the Department of Health. Back pain is responsible for ten million lost working days annually, with the cost to UK employers estimated at £600m.
Given that 40%-50% of the adult population experiences back pain in any given year, the need for greater information on the topic certainly exists.

The Boscombe-based Anglo-European College of Chiropractic (AECC's) runs a programme of community outreach projects across the local area, to educate people on ways to avoid back pain and maintain general well-being. The AECC's specialist chiropractic teaching clinic sees around 1,000 patients a week, many of whom suffer with back pain. General advice given by the AECC to help avoid back pain includes:

Regular Exercise - The most helpful thing you can do to prevent and manage back pain is keep your back (and the rest of your body) fit and healthy by leading an active lifestyle. Small changes to your lifestyle, such as going for a walk on your lunch break, taking the stairs rather than the lift and getting off the bus one stop earlier can make a big difference to your overall lifestyle.
Swimming, pilates, yoga and walking are popular kinds of exercise which can help strengthen the back and reduce pain.

Adjusting your posture - In certain circumstances, such as driving or working at a desk, we are forced to spend longer than usual in a one position. It is important to take regular breaks when this is the case, to main the natural ‘s-shape' of your spine. Exercises can be undertaken in a seated position, such as lateral neck rotations, shoulder shrugs, calf raises and wrist rolling. These exercises can make a difference to your overall wellbeing and help avoid musculoskeletal problems.

For more information visit www.aecc.ac.uk, or call 01202 436222
Anglo-European College of Chiropractic, 13-15 Parkwood Road, Bournemouth, BH5 2DF