Why is our back so susceptible to pain?

The majority of back problems are caused by a lack of exercise. We sit too much these days. Another factor is stress, which causes physical tension. This tension is supposed to help us cope with upcoming tasks - to flee or fight, as our ancestors did. Today, constant stress and great pressure ensure that tension becomes tension. And chronic tension often leads to back pain.

What back pain plagues us most often?

Many patients complain of discomfort caused by tension. They are a sign of one-sided muscular strain, such as that caused by sitting for too long. Severe, sudden pain in the lumbar vertebrae, restricted mobility and hardened muscles are typical of lumbago. It is often not possible to determine the exact cause. Dislocations can also trigger pain.

Why do so many children have back pain?

Children spend an average of four to five hours a day sitting in front of the computer and television. 15 percent of children are overweight, of which eight percent - around one million - are even morbidly obese. So it is hardly surprising that 70 percent of children between the ages of 10 and 17 occasionally complain of back pain. The first herniated discs occur in schoolchildren. We should not simply stand by and watch. I strongly advise parents to make sure that their children keep moving - from the time they are toddlers until they finish school.

How can I prevent back problems?

It can't be pointed out often enough: The majority of back problems are caused by a lack of exercise. Make your everyday life more active. Walking is ideal for strengthening your core muscles. Abdominal training improves posture, which also prevents low back pain. I also recommend swimming. It doesn't put any strain on the joints and the buoyancy is easy on the spine.

What should you pay attention to in your diet?

The spine must remain stable and needs minerals to do so. The intervertebral disc is not nourished by blood flow, but indirectly by the surrounding environment. Being overweight puts additional strain on the back and joints. My tip: eat a varied and healthy diet. Also make sure you drink enough fluids. This is important for the elasticity of the intervertebral discs. Drink 1.5 to 2 liters per day.

Your SOS tip for acute pain?

Sudden pain often responds well to cold. It reduces metabolic activity and the transmission of pain. Use ice cubes, for example, which you first wrap in a thick, dry cloth and then apply. Three minutes several times a day is sufficient for pure pain relief. For inflammation, 20 minutes is recommended.

And when should I use a hot water bottle?

If you suffer from chronic low back pain, it is better to keep the area warm. To do this, fill a hot-water bottle halfway and squeeze out the remaining air towards the neck of the bottle. This allows the hot water bottle to adapt optimally to your body shape. Then place it on the painful area.

Can I take a painkiller in an emergency?

Mild painkillers can be useful at the beginning of the pain. They help to keep you mobile. However, you should not take them for longer than a few days. After all, if you are in pain for longer, you are adopting a relieving posture which can make the tension worse.

And when should you see a doctor?

If the pain radiates to the leg or arm, you should see a doctor. The same applies if the pain does not improve after a week or gets worse. Medical help is also needed if posture or movement do not change the degree or location of the pain or make it worse. If you also feel numbness, see a doctor immediately!

7 facts about back pain

69% of Germans complain of back pain - twelve percent of them every day.

How quickly and how much the spine wears out is determined to 70% by our genes.

More than 40% of intervertebral disc patients continue to suffer pain after an operation.

In 85% of cases, doctors cannot explain why exactly the patient's back hurts. There is no clear cause.

60,000 people are operated on every year because of a slipped disc.

The spine shrinks over the course of the day. Our height can therefore vary by 2 to 3 cm between morning and evening.

It pays to wait and see. Because in 9 out of 10 cases, the pain disappears after 6 weeks at the latest.

Preventing back pain in everyday life

Good: If you look up from your PC, you should look (straight ahead) at the window.

Unfavorable: If you have the window behind you, it reflects. Strains the eyes.

Monitor

Good: The screen should be set so that your gaze meets the center of the monitor when you are in a relaxed position.

Unfavorable: If the table lamp reflects.

Keyboard

Favorable: It is ideally positioned when it is level with the hands and elbows.

Unfavorable: If it is placed higher on raised feet.

Chair back

Favorable: The backrest should be adjustable and upholstered.

Unfavorable: If the back of the chair is inflexible, this can put pressure on the intervertebral discs over time.

Sitting posture

Advantageous: Change more often, sometimes slouch.

Unfavorable: The turtle posture: round back, raised shoulders, head pushed forward.

Seating surface

Favorable: A dynamic seat.

Unfavorable: If the chair is set too high. A 90-degree angle between the upper and lower leg is ideal.