All about Back Pain
Your back is an intricate structure, giving you the power to stand, walk, run, sit and lift. The ligaments of the lower back connect the vertebral bones, support and stabilize this area. An unconditioned back is prone to strain when muscles and ligaments are overworked. Back muscle strain occurs when a sudden, forceful movement injures a ligament, which has become stiff or weak from poor conditioning or overuse.
Acute lower back pain is a common medical problem afflicting two-thirds of Americans during some part of their lives. Each year nearly 6 million Americans suffer from back or spinal problems, making back pain the most commonly reported health condition in the United States.
Lower back pain can be anything from a lumbar sprain to an actual rupture of a disc. However, most cases of lower back pain come from muscle or ligament strain as a result of lifting, bending or overstretching.
The spine is naturally configured in an “S” curve. A slight concave curve of the cervical spine (neck) gently changes to the longer convex thoracic (chest) area ending in a concave curve of the lumbar region. The neutral “S” curving cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine is also the most stress free state.