Lower Back Pain...A Global Pandemic

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Have you ever experienced lower back pain or just back pain in general? If so, you are totally not alone. It is speculated that almost 80% of the adult population will experience low back pain at some point in time. This pain is a result of the repeated daily stress placed on your back from poor posture, faulty body mechanics, stress, lack of flexibility, lack of muscle tone, and a plethora of other things! It is important to teach clients about proper posture and body mechanics to reduce their risk of injury, to help them perform simple ADL's, to ensure proper lifting techniques, and to increase their mobility in their everyday lives. Improper body mechanics can limit mobility and cause injury, resulting in pain and in turn limiting peoples' ability to perform ADLs. Conversely, proper body mechanics can allow people to perform ADLs with maximal efficiency and mobility, and reduced risk of injury in doing so. These are just a few of the reasons and examples that proper posture and body mechanics are so significant and must be taught to all of our clients that we treat.

There are a variety of different ways to teach clients how to have proper body mechanics and proper posture. One of the most important movements to teach is how to lift objects, heavy or non-heavy, in a correct form. I would instruct the client on bending at the knees, keeping the back straight, and using your big leg muscles and core to lift the object. Proper lifting techniques are very important in everyday life to avoid injury. One way I would teach proper posture is to explain the definition of a "correct" posture and the detriment of having a poor posture and the toll it can take on your health. Having proper posture can lead to improved breathing, reduced stress on the joints in your spinal cord, and improved muscle functions. Both of these examples referenced- lifting objects and how to have correct posture- could both be taught with demonstration so that clients can not only hear the information, but also visualize these techniques as well to practice themselves. I believe that educating our clients about proper body alignment and proper body mechanics can aid in the pandemic of lower back pain.

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