The back is composed of a complex structure of muscles, ligaments, tendons, joints and bones, which work together to support the vertical position and allow the displacement and mobility of the trunk. The bone structure is one of the strongest parts of the body, but at the same time it has great flexibility and endurance.

Back pain has the most varied causes, from the holding an incorrect posture to muscle sprawl or the existence of a disorder of an internal organ.

Back pain can manifest as a sharp pain or as a deaf, dull pain, affecting about 30% of the adult population, as a result it is among the most common ailments. The prevalence (existing cases) of nonspecific low back pain (which are not caused by diseases) is 60% -70% in developed countries. This means that 2 out of 3 people have encountered or will encounter this problem at some point in their lives.

As frequently as back pain is encountered, the more accurate or less accurate information circulates about it. Thus, we try to see what the myth is and what is the reality about back pain.

The pain is not caused by lifting weights but by the way they are lifted. Thus, the weights are lifted from a squatting position with the knees apart at the level of the shoulders, with the back straight and the head up. We use the force of our feet to push the weight up. All this while, the back is kept straight, it does not twist or bend forward.

The position with the back bent forward, specific to people who spend a lot of time at the desk, is not beneficial and causes pain, but also sitting with the back straight for long periods of time can also cause a pressure on the back. It would be ideal to take breaks a few times a day to do some exercises for back stretching. It’s even better try to stand up for part of the day.

Anyone can have back pain. People who are too thin, may have bone problems and are more likely to be at risk of back injury.

Regular exercise prevents back pain by toning the muscles. A more toned musculature ensures a better resistance of the back. Physical exercise is recommended both for the prevention of back pain and for its treatment and relapse.

Many back pains disappear by themselves with the help of rest and the avoidance of movements that can accentuate the pain, but there are high chances of relapse if a rehabilitation or medical recovery program is not followed.

A back pain prevention program must contain medical gymnastics to generate an optimal physical condition, avoid sedentary lifestyle, physiotherapy, manual therapy. In conclusion, rest can help back pain, but not for more than 1-2 days.

There are studies showing that if people with back pain sleep on mattresses with a medium degree of firmness, they cope better with back pain but also with daily activity, compared to people who sleep on firm mattresses. The mattress is chosen according to your own preferences, but the cause of the back pain is taken into account. A simple way to choose the right mattress for your back is to position your hand behind your back while lying on the mat. If there is a space between your back and the mattress, it means that it is too hard and does not fit the shape of your body.

An important role in back pain is played by the position in which the person sleeps. A position that relieves back pain is sleeping on one side, with the knees bent towards the chest and a pillow placed between the knees.

Maintaining body weight within normal limits helps prevent back pain. Excessive weight puts increased pressure on the spine, especially in the lumbar and sacral area and, thus, back pain occurs. Statistically speaking, if in the case of a person with a normal weight the risk of having pain in the lumbar area is 2.9%, in the case of an obese person the risk reaches up to 7.7%.

The spine can support the weight of the body, but when the extra kilograms appear, the spine assimilates the extra weight and injuries can occur in its structure, such as: sciatica, herniated disc, fractures. The most vulnerable region when it comes to the negative effects of obesity is the lumbar area.

Chiropractic is a therapy focused on functional or structural problems of the spine, in which a series of manual procedures are involved. One of these manual procedures is manipulation. Manipulation is a high amplitude, short-term and high-speed movement which involves manipulation of the patients' joints, movements that the patients cannot perform alone, thus contributing to the increase of the mobility and flexibility of the spine. Massage therapy usually precedes manipulation.

Acupuncture is an unconventional method of treatment, effective when we talk about low back pain. Acupuncture is a treatment method specific to Chinese medicine. The functioning principle of acupuncture is that of the circuits on which the "vital energy" circulates, that is, the Chinese qi. Acupuncture specialists know the 20 energy meridians that unite the over 2000 energy points of the body and use the needles to correct or maintain the energy flow along these circuits.

Several studies done in the field in recent years have revealed that acupuncture relieves low back pain, even if they are chronic.

By stimulating the central nervous system, a series of chemicals are released in the brain, muscles, but also in the bone marrow, substances that relieve pain and improve the patient's condition. Endorphins are among the released substances, which are known to be the hormones of "well-being”.

Specialists have not yet been able to discover if acupuncture actually relieves pain or has beneficial effects that somehow mask the pain, making it much easier to bear.