80% of Australians suffer from chronic lower back pain on a daily basis[1]
As the spring season blooms, many people will be giving their homes and gardens much needed spring cleans, however, the Chiropractors’ Association of Australia South Australia (CAASA) warns that this is the time when people need to take extra precautions in preventing back pain and injury.
According to CAASA, back injuries are most likely to occur over a weekend of spring cleaning when the body has been mostly idle during the previous week.
Statistics show that over 80% of Australians will suffer from some sort of back pain or injury throughout their life, with many doing nothing to either prevent or treat their injuries, which can cause long term, debilitating damage.
CAASA President – Dr Andrew Timbs says, “People are unaware that simply cleaning out the garage, spending a few hours in the garden, or craning over a workbench can be as damaging to your back as an afternoon spent on a field playing sports.”
“The best preventative solution for back pain and injury is regular exercise to get your muscles and bones moving,” says Dr Andrew Timbs.
“Knowing your limits is also important as it enables people to prevent injury. If something seems too heavy or too strenuous on the body, chances are your back won’t be able to handle it, so just wait until you have some help. It’s just not worth the risk to your back,” says Dr Andrew Timbs.
Tips and Tricks to avoid the spring backache;
Ø Get a minimum of 30 minutes of daily exercise into your routine
Ø Try and keep your spine straight as often as possible – if you’ve been bending over the garden, take a minute to stand and stretch your back out
Ø When lifting heavy items, bend your knees and activate your core back and stomach muscles
Some of the most common injuries that emerge from the spring cleaning season are those related to sprains and strains, herniated or swollen disks, and fractured vertebrae as people set out to become weekend warriors.
If you suffer from back pain or a chronic injury, visit http://www.chiropractors.asn.au/ for more information on where to find local CAASA Member chiropractors in your area, as well as many other helpful resources on how to treat and prevent back pain.
More News
