Back pain can be a vicious cycle if not addressed properly. About 80% of Americans will experience at least one instance of back pain in their lifetimes. Most back pain doesn’t go away on its own, and there is no one-size-fits-all strategy to easing the pain. Here are some ways you can identify your back problems and some easy solutions.

There are four steps we want to consider fixing back pain issues. These steps are in a very specific order.

1. Find the Dysfunction: This could be anything from weak muscle groups to a spine injury. Before getting started with fixing issues, first identify the problem. Always consult with a professional like your doctor, a chiropractor, or massage therapist to help find the musculoskeletal issue.
2. Build a Foundation: Now that you know what the problem is you can start to work on the solution. This is like building a proper foundation before you build a house. If you jump straight to strengthening, you can cause further harm than good.
3. Improve Flexibility: More often than not, if you are having back pain your range of motion may not be the best it can be. Our bodies add inflexible tissue called fascia around an injury to fortify the area. It is important to stretch and alleviate the need for extra fascia by adding flexibility back in.
4. Increase Strength: Last but not least, once we have worked our way to this step, we have added range of motion back into the problem areas and now we need to add the stability back in. If you have back pain, there are most likely weak muscle groups right above or below the site of pain.

A great way to work on steps #2 and #4 is to join us for our physical activity program Standing Abs on May 14 at 11:30 a.m. This webinar will guide you through an effective core strengthening workout suitable for most people. For more upcoming educational programs, register on Link to Health.