Goodbye back problems: exercise is the key to a healthy spine!

Goodbye back problems: exercise is the key to a healthy spine!

Back pain is a widespread problem in Germany, which many people often only actively address when they are affected themselves. According to estimates, up to 85 percent of Germans experience back pain in the course of their lives. Prof. Dr. Heiko Wagner, exercise scientist at the University of Münster, points out that exercise is one of the most effective measures to relieve and prevent back pain. Staying active is crucial for strengthening the back muscles and stabilizing the spine, which can significantly reduce painful symptoms. This can happen through sporting activities as well as through everyday movements, such as walks or gymnastics. According to Wagner in a report, it is not absolutely necessary to visit a gym to achieve a positive effect uni-muenster.de.

“Back Health Day” is celebrated annually on March 15th to promote awareness of the importance of a healthy back. A central aspect of the education is that back pain often occurs for a short time and in many cases goes away after just a few days without specific medical intervention. However, around 20 percent of those affected suffer from chronic back pain that lasts for more than six months. The causes of chronic back pain are often a lack of exercise and psychological factors such as stress and depression.

Risk factors and psychological dimensions

Fear of pain can impair motor control and lead to poor posture of the body, creating a vicious cycle. Misalignments in the body can not only cause new problems, but can also increase chronic pain. Wagner explains that psychological factors can significantly influence the experience of pain, which is why it is important to choose activities that bring pleasure and therefore promote pain relief. These findings are particularly relevant for people who tend to rest out of fear of pain, which in turn increases the risk of chronic back pain, such as aok.de emphasized.

The prevention of back pain is essential as it not only reduces quality of life but also entails high social costs. Back pain causes more years of disability than any other disease. Prevention should be divided into different categories: primary prevention aims to prevent back pain in childhood and adolescence, while secondary prevention aims to avoid the chronicity of acute pain. Psychological variables play a crucial role here. Tertiary prevention should aim to prevent sequelae and relapses.

Multifactorial approaches to prevention

Back pain has a multifactorial genesis; this means that they cannot be traced back to a single cause. Mechanical stress in combination with psychosocial demands are common triggers. To counteract this, the use of methods such as biofeedback is recommended, which makes it possible to measure physiological parameters in real time and provide feedback on one's own body perception. This approach can be integrated into multimodal prevention programs to improve self-efficacy and reaction control of those affected. The use of data analysis technologies could further advance the development of individualized prevention strategies, explains an article sportaerztezeitung.com.

In summary, it can be said that the integration of physical activity into everyday life and awareness of psychological influences are crucial elements in the fight against back pain. A proactive approach can not only relieve acute symptoms, but also lead to better back health in the long term. It remains to be hoped that increased educational work will enable more and more people to take responsibility for their back health.