Chronic back pain is the leader cause for absence at work in industrialized countries, followed closely by cold and flu. Given how widespread back pains are, there is a surprisingly tremendous of misinformation out there on what actually helps. So let’s get on demystifying three common back pain myths!
Myth #1 Training Your Core Will Strengthen Your Weak Back
Building core strength is an important part of an exercise regime. Plus you can get some sexy looking abs.
Recent studies have shown that exercise for your core do no more good than generally exercising your entire body. The contracted core muscles may even pull on the spine, causing more disc compression. The better option is working the whole body, building and lengthening the torso muscles.
Myth #2 Using an Ergonomic Chair Will Help Reverse Back Pain
Our body is designed for movement, not for sitting or standing in any position for an extended period of time.
In her book The Chair: Rethinking Culture, Body and Design, Dr Galen Cranz proposes that we radically re-invent the way we work by introducing movement at work and in school. More and more American employers are even introducing treadmills at the desk for their work force.
Myth #3 Back Pain is Caused by Bad Posture
There is no scientific evidence supporting the belief that people with bad posture are more prone to back pain.
Other factors, such as problems with pain receptors in the central nervous systems, contribute more significantly to chronic back pain.
Rather than asking your body to work even harder to maintain “good” posture, finding ways to ease the train is more conducive to reducing back pain.
There are many reasons why people struggle with back pains. This is one of the most common health complaints. Knowing three of the most common back pain myths will hopefully unravel some of the misdirected thinking behind why we have back pains.
