Prevention is by far the best way to deal with back pain. Following good back care recommendations and maintaining a strong, healthy body (through exercise, nutrition and other activities) can prevent or delay spine injury or damage. Even if you have back problems, staying at a healthy weight, not smoking and drinking alcohol in moderation can help. Unhealthy weight puts excessive stress on your skeleton and joints, including the bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons of your spine. Exercising regularly may help prevent obesity by giving you more energy to be physically active — even active enough to burn off calories so that you're no longer at an unhealthy weight. Staying physically active can also maintain your muscle strength and joint flexibility, which is important for spinal health.
There are a variety of treatments for this common condition. The most conservative is rest and maintenance of normal activity as tolerated. If weight reduction is appropriate, the use of heat packs can be helpful to relieve some back pain. However, if the pain is persistent or prevents you from getting an adequate night's sleep, you should see your healthcare provider for further evaluation and possible treatment. For more information, please refer to the info graphic below.
