PILATES FOR LOWER BACK PAIN
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CAUSES OF LOWER BACK PAIN
Common causes of lower back pain come from our unhealthy daily routines and habits.
Have you been sitting too long?
Did you know that sitting puts 90% more pressure on your lower back than standing? (Source: Cornell University Department of Ergonomics) Most of us are sitting in an unhealthy position that causes a lot of tension and stress in the lower back. With our modern lifestyles which tend to be desk-bound and sedentary, we are already spending too much time sitting, and on top of that, in a stressed position.
Observe your own posture and tendencies when you are sitting.
Do you:
- Let your head fall forward while spending too much time looking at a screen?
- Constantly lean forward from your lower back when you watch TV?
- Reach your arms far forward to type or use the mouse?
- Spend many hours sitting continuously?
are you holding in your emotions?
If you have been experiencing a tough time and lots of difficult emotions, these can manifest in your back. Feeling upset, especially over a period of time or consistently, can cause us to instinctively tense our back muscles. Our muscles do not relax and this can result in accumulated stress in the back.
What Pilates does is to help people bring more awareness to parts of the body and notice sensations in their bodies that they have been used to for a long time. Because we are so used to these sensations, we do not realize that these are actually unhealthy and even painful. Bringing the breath back into the tightest muscles can help bring relief to your lower back.
How is your posture?
Our modern lifestyles are not always conducive to keeping a healthy posture. Have you noticed how you stand when you are waiting for the bus for example? Do you "sit" into one side of the hip? Are you so focused on your phone you do not even realize how far your neck is stretched over?
Postural corrections given in Pilates classes can be applied throughout the day, not only in Pilates class. Check if your shoulders are lightly set back and your stomach is gently pulled in when you are in a standing position. Use your breath as a guide to how your body is feeling. A body that is slouched and hunched over will make it harder for the lungs to work.
Are you sleeping well?
Sleeping is an extremely important part of our lives and we spend so many hours dedicating ourselves to it! Yet we pay little attention to how our bodies are positioned when we are sleeping. Do you wake up sometimes with aches in your body instead of feeling refreshed? It is a good idea to check your mattress. It is a worthwhile investment to have a good, firm mattress. In an average lifetime, we spend almost 33 years in bed (https://www.dreams.co.uk/sleep-matters-club/your-life-in-numbers-infographic/) so if you have a mattress that is too saggy or too hard, your back is taking quite a beating which you may not be aware of until it starts to hurt.
What can you do about lower back pain?
The first thing you need is to be aware of how your body feels and how you are holding up your body. Pilates is a wonderful way to get you started on building a keen consciousness of your body parts and how they are moving and how they are connected.
Here are 10 easily doable tips you can adapt into your life immediately to make minor changes that can go a long way in bringing relief to your lower back.
A healthy back is a happy one!