Spinal pains
.Lying on the back puts a pressure on our spine that amounts to about 30 kilograms per square centimetre, walking - 85 kg, jumping - 110 kg, leaning forward while standing up - 150 kg, sitting without a back support - as much as 180 kg. We usually sit when working in an office, which makes us vulnerable to spinal overload. Spinal pains caused by a constrained and incorrect sitting posture gradually lead to degenerative changes of the spine. Moreover, the lack of physical exercise weakens our paraspinal muscles, depriving us of a natural protective structure the spine. Spinal pains have become a social problem, since they affect 90% of society and are the most frequent cause of absence from work and the most common reason for visiting a doctor. Ninety per cent of spinal pain conditions are caused by a prolonged static or sudden dynamic overload of the structures of the spine. These mechanical overloads often result from bad habits.
What are spinal pains and how do they originate?
When muscle tense, for example due to an improper unsupported posture or slouching, they also contract, impeding free circulation of the blood. Insufficient blood flow leads to oxygen deficiency in the muscles, and consequently to further muscular contractions. In this way the process intensifies, leading to painful reactions, to which we involuntarily respond with yet another muscular contraction. If this situation recurs frequently, the pain becomes chronic and leads to inflammatory and degenerative-inflammatory conditions. These in turn may cause nagging pain, triggered by the compression of the damaged spinal structure on the nerve roots that come out of the spinal cord. These ailments are increasingly common and long-lasting and are a frequent cause of sickness absence.
Causes:
- excessive strain to spinal ligaments
- incorrect, fixed sitting posture during work
- repetitious flexing or rotating movements
- incorrect lifting of heavy objects, parcels, eg. reams of photocopying paper
- many hours of office work in a sitting position
- improper posture during sleep
- unhygienic lifestyle
- stress-induced muscular tension (usually in the neck and shoulder area)
- obesity
- in rare cases the above-mentioned ailments are associated with injuries or serious diseases, for example tumours
Symptoms:
- pain
- limited mobility
- problems with twisting the trunk or leaning forward
- discopathy
- muscular contractions in the legs
- scoliosis
- formication, numbness or even paresis of the limbs
Treatment:
If these serious spinal diseases are ignored or not treated properly, they may lead to irreversible changes, for example to sciatic neuralgia - a condition characterized by strong pain radiating to the buttocks, thighs or even the calves, caused by compression of the nerve rootlets. Treatment may be ineffective, if it is provided too late.
Therapy depends on the type of ailment and on the affected spinal section:
- analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug
- compresses, ointments
- light physical exercise
- pain-relieving injections
- hospital treatment
Prevention:
- maintaining a correct posture - holding the chin slightly up, with straight back
- avoiding prolonged work at a desk; taking at least one break every hour, doing a few exercises.
- using an appropriate swivel chair at work - with adjustable height, lumbar support, a Synchro mechanism, etc.
- correctly adjusted height of the desk and the swivel chair
- performing certain activities with your left hand, if you are right-handed
- using proper techniques of lifting heavy objects, standing up without sudden or jerky movements
- proper footwear - with thick and elastic soles, avoiding high heels
- adequate sleeping mattress, relaxing baths
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