Low Back Kit
Plus S & H
$160.00
Purshase

Nearly 80 percent of adults are affected by back pain at some point in their lives. It is one of the most common reasons for hospitalization in the United States. A variety of problems in the muscles, tendons, bones, ligaments, or an underlying organ, such as the kidneys, may cause backaches. Aches and pain in the lower back can be a chronic problem. Lumbago is a folk term for muscle pain in the lower back, near the pelvis.

For many years, it was assumed that back pain was usually the result of spinal degeneration or injury, especially damage to the inter vertebral disks. These are structures located between the vertebrae that act as cushions. Each disk consists of a tough, fibrous outer layer surrounding a soft interior, which is what provides the cushioning. With the ordinary wear and tear of living, the disks show signs of aging and may be injured. When a disk begins to degenerate, a strain--even something as small as a sneeze-- can cause the disk to rupture, or herniate, allowing the soft interior material to protrude out of the disk and press against the spinal cord. This situation is sometimes erroneously referred to as a "slipped disk." A herniated disk can indeed cause severe intermittent or constant back pain. However, it is difficult to pinpoint disk disease as the cause of most cases of back pain. That is because most adults past the age of forty--whether they experience back pain or not--can be shown to have some degree of disk degeneration. Further, in most instances, disk degeneration and even herniation do not produce any symptoms.

It is now believed that the leading cause of back pain is simple muscle strain. Although symptoms may come on suddenly and can be acutely painful, this is actually a problem that develops over a long period of time. When muscles contract, lactic acid and pyruvic acid are produced as by products of muscular activity. It is the presence of lactic acid in the muscles that produces the familiar sensation of muscle fatigue following strenuous activity. If high levels of these acidic by products accumulate in the muscles, they cause irritation that can eventually turn into pain and interfere with the normal conduction of electrical impulses in the muscle tissue. This results in a phenomenon called delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Problems with acidic buildup are often made worse by dehydration.

Most cases of back ain also have an important psychological component, usually a deep-seated emotional or stress-related problem. Other contributors to back pain can include poor posture, improper footwear and walking habits, improper lifting, straining, calcium deficiency, slouching when sitting, and sleeping on a mattress that is too soft. Kidney, bladder, and prostate problems, female pelvic disorders, and even constipation may produce back pain. Chronic conditions that can cause back pain include arthritis, rheumatism, bone disease, and abnormal curvature of the spine. Fractures are rarely the cause of back pain.