- We can add one more item
to the list of problemscaused by the pandemic.
Doctors say the shutdowns led
to increased back pain
because people stopped going to the gym,
laid on the couch andate too much junk food.
- We have to actively stretch,
we have to actively do things
to make sure our bodiesremain as limber as possible.
- [Lorie] That's becausebodies naturally get stiffer
as we age, increasingthe risk of back injury.
Spinal surgeon Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo
says maintaining flexibility
is the number one wayto prevent back pain.
He recommends stretchingat least 15 minutes a day,
five days a week.
- If your quads are tight, ifyour hip flexors are tight,
then they won't move in the way
that they're designed to,
and the stress goes somewhere else.
And the body, for whatever reason,
tends to have the stress goright into the lower back.
- [Lorie] The next best move
to avoid back pain is bystrengthening your core muscles
by doing exercises like leg lifts,
planks and sit-ups.
- So you are strengthening your abs,
you're strengthening your core,
and that in turn protects your back
and gets your back healthier.
- [Lorie] Whether at home or the office,
strive for an ergonomic workstation.
- So if you're workingat your dining table,
be aware of the height of the table.
Maybe get a chair thatcan adjust to a height
where not as much stressgoes into your lower back.
Another thing that Ilove is a standing desk.
- [Lorie] Extra pounds can strain bones
and muscle in your back,
so try to maintain a healthy weight.
Also, avoid sugar, which can lead
to inflammation, the rootof most low back pain.
Doctors recommend giving up smoking
because it restrictsblood flow to the spine
and impairs your body's ability to heal.
Also, consider where you sleep.
- If your mattress is too soft,
and your back sinks into the mattress,
then your risk of injury becomes higher.
- [Lorie] When getting dressed,
avoid flip flops andhigh heels when possible,
and take other precautions.
- You wanna put your pantson from a seated position
where you're notstressing your lower back.
- [Lorie] Try to bend at the knees
when picking things up, not at the waist.
When back pain does arrive,
doctors say it's better to move around,
rather than staying in bed.
And proper medication can help.
- Accommodation of the proper inflammatory
and non-prescription analgesics
can often lessen the pain,
and prevent us from goingdown the route of opioids.
- [Lorie] When drugs don't work,
sometimes surgery is an option.
- When patients have whatwe call radicular pain,
so pain that travels down your arms
that's relentless, andyour MRI shows something
that clearly puts pressure onthe nerves, that's surgical.
So if you have progressive weakness
in either your arms or your legs,
if you have issue with balance,
and your MRI or CT scanshows clear pressure
on the nerves, that's surgical.
- [Lorie] So while millionsof Americans suffer
from back pain, the good news
is it's often preventable
or at least controllable.
With a little knowhow and a fewimportant lifestyle changes,
we can age gracefully andavoid this common affliction.
Lorie Johnson, CBN News.
