Many people experience back pain at least once in a lifetime. The causes for this are often muscle pain, lumbago or poor posture. Back pain often varies from person to person, with some suffering from persistent pain and others from throbbing pain. Many back pains can be treated, for example, with a special training program, special exercises or a relieving back support.
Back Pain – Anatomy, Causes, and Treatment
The spine consists of 24 free vertebrae, which are held with the help of muscles and ligaments and thus form the supporting element in our back. Between each vertebra there’s a shock-absorbing plate, the so-called intervertebral disc.
Four different parts of spine
- Cervical spine – includes the neck and the transition to the thoracic spine
- Thoracic spine – includes the spine / chest
- Lumbar spine – covers the lower part of the back
- Sacrum – includes the transition to the pelvis
Back pain often affects one or more segments. It is often related to work situations, age or overwork during which the cushioning parts of the back are damaged.
The causes of back pain in the cervical spine are mostly related to an unnatural posture of the head and neck. The weight of the head is often carried slightly in front of the body, which can lead to a forward leaning posture and thus to an overload of the muscles.
Today’s modern workplaces, where you sit in front of the computer, smartphone and tablet for a long time. That usually result in poor posture and are therefore one of the direct causes of back pain. Poor posture or work posture, bent shoulders and work stress and negatively affect the thoracic spine. Upper back pain is a common problem and is often associated with poor work posture. When the shoulders fall forward, the entire upper body leans forward and the shoulder and neck muscles quickly stiffen. For example, a desk or work table that’s too low can cause this posture.
The lumbar spine is the part most affected by pain. Again, there can be many different causes that cause the discomfort. Overloading can quickly damage the muscles of the lumbar back and thus cause discomfort. The muscle fibers within the lower back can quickly become overloaded when, for example, you’re shoving snow, doing gardening, or playing the first round of golf of the season. Work situations which will negatively affect the lumbar back are, for example, warehouse work where you have to constantly lift heavy loads or when you as a craftsman often need to take up uncomfortable positions. Often there’s stiffness in the problem area and, in the case of slight pain, the symptoms disappear after a few days of rest.
Lumbago is another problem, causing pain in the back and especially the lumbar back. In lumbago, it ranges from slight persistent to very strong, stabbing pain that can also extend to the upper buttocks. In certain cases, lumbago can also lead to very severe cramp-like muscle pain that’s located locally over the lumbar spine.
Treatments for back pain with the help of a back brace
For neck problems and pain in the upper back, you’ll find relieving cervical collars in our range that effectively help to stabilize and relieve the neck.
Against back pain in the upper back or in the area of the thoracic spine, posture or back supports that help bring the neck back into a normal position usually help. If the position is leaning forward too far and too often, there’s a risk that local pain will also occur in the loin area and that the muscles will be overloaded. A back or posture support works effectively against the shoulders falling forwards and gives the back extra support under heavy loads.
The complaints in the lumbar back can therefore be effectively treated with a stabilizing back or posture support. Our back bandages strengthen the painful areas and reduce the cause of the pain.
Bad posture affects our everyday and work life and sometimes causes pain and discomfort in the thoracic spine, neck and shoulders. A back support helps to correct posture and a generally better posture, which directly alleviates the discomfort in the thoracic spine, shoulders and neck.
A back support for posture correction positions the upper body in a so-called neutral position. This neutral position ensures a normal load profile for the neck, thoracic spine and shoulders. The neutral position creates a significantly more balanced load from top to bottom, without the risk of incorrect loading of the neck, thoracic spine and shoulders
When should I wear a back brace for posture correction?
A back support for posture correction can be worn in the event of complaints and in all situations in which you want to achieve a better posture. In the case of recurring pain in the neck, thoracic spine or shoulders, the posture vest returns the upper body to a neutral position, which causes immediate pain relief. Especially in the afternoon, when the muscles slowly tire and the shoulders automatically lean forward, wearing a back support is recommended to correct posture.
The Colecast posture braces and supports are all dynamic. A flexible posture vest helps muscles work evenly and effectively. A posture vest ensures that the muscles work in a more natural and correct position without misalignment, which in the long term ensures a permanently improved posture.
How should I use my posture brace or posture vest?
Posture vests are placed over the shoulders to prevent the shoulders from twisting forwards or falling forward. A shoulder turned forward puts the thoracic spine in an unnatural position that puts strain on the thoracic spine and neck. You should not pull the posture vest too tight. Keep it be soft and comfortable you are going to wear over a longer period of time. Correctly applied, the back support should be comfortable and pleasant to wear and effect an effective correction of posture. A back support offers the most effective support without exerting uncomfortable pressure on the shoulder area.