It may be no surprise that back pain is the number one cause of disability in the world, disrupting everything from daily activities to time at work, but while many causes of back pain are obvious, some aren’t. Most cases of back pain in St. Louis MO are mechanical or non-organic, meaning serious conditions like arthritis or infection don’t cause them. What are some of the more surprising causes of back pain, and some natural methods for finding relief?

Common Causes of Back pain in St. Louis MO

Mediocre “Media” Posture

The effects of slouching and poor posture while sitting aren’t new developments in the understanding of mechanical back pain, but advances in technology over recent decades have people walking around with mobile devices more than ever before, and it turns out that the constant connection is wreaking havoc on our spines.

Gazing down into our hands and laps at phones, laptops, and tablets draw the weight of the head forward, and this multiplies the forces in the spine, leading to misalignment and structural changes that cause dysfunction and pain. “Text Neck” as it’s being called CAN be improved with the help of professionals that can retrain posture and strengthen muscles.

Shifty Shoes

When you think of building a house, the first and most important aspect to consider is the foundation, because without enough support and balance at ground level, everything built above it will be unstable and its integrity compromised. We can envision the same happening in the body; without the right support for the feet and the joints stacked above them, the structure of the spine will begin to lose its alignment and stability.

Flat, unsupportive shoes like flip flops, skate shoes, and most casual shoes and sneakers lack the structural integrity needed to keep tissues in the feet aligned, and this can cause changes in the way you stand, walk, and move, which can strain the spine and the supportive soft tissues around it. You can learn more about how to support changes in your movement by working with medical professionals trained in biomechanics and physiology.

Tight & Weak Muscles

To stand upright and walk, we utilize a deep stabilizing muscle in the core called the psoas that connects the inside of our spine to the tops of the leg bones. When we sit, the angle between the body and legs is decreased, and the psoas tends to shorten.

Ultimately, simply standing upright causes back pain because the large muscle pulls the lower spine forward, leading to compression of the discs between the vertebrae. Decompression of these discs is an important factor in this type of back pain relief, as is lengthening and strengthening the muscles in and around the core and seat.

If you’re looking for effective pain relief without the need for surgery or medications, you owe it to yourself to seek the care of the medical professionals at St. Louis Back and Knee Center.

With innovative and comprehensive treatment plans, we work to treat and manage your pain at the source, and our systematic approach means the latest advancements delivered by a team of experts with your best interests in mind. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more!