A Healthy Weight for a Healthy Back

Many people can trace their back pain to specific incidents such as falling off a horse or being injured in an automobile accident. But they might not realize that weight gain is a common cause of back pain, producing muscle strain, bulging spinal discs and painful joints. Low back pain may originate from belly fat that pulls the abdominals forward, causing back strain, according to a population-based study on disc degeneration. Additionally, researchers are reporting a strong association between being overweight and disc degeneration. Exercise is important to back health. Dr. Mehmet Oz recommends getting enough sleep to allow sore back muscles to refresh and regenerate and stretching for 10 minutes each morning to strengthen back muscles. Exercises such as partial sit-ups, pelvic tilts and stretching lower back muscles improve back health, strengthen the back and protect it from pain and injury, states the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Belly Fat and Back Pain

Belly fat puts people at risk for serious health problems including insulin resistance, hormone imbalance, high blood pressure and cancer. It causes back pain because carrying extra weight in your belly pulls your pelvis forward, which in turn can cause skeletal imbalance resulting in muscle strains. Lower back strains from carrying an uneven weight load of abdominal fat is painful and risks more serious back injury such as ruptured or slipped discs.

Disc Degeneration and Being Overweight

A study in China of almost 3,000 men and women found a significant association between high-body mass index and disc degeneration. This finding is supported by the finding that underweight people are significantly less likely to have disc degeneration. Dr. Scott Boden of Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center in Atlanta says the association between weight and disc degeneration. Doctors like Dr. Kenneth Cheung of the University of Hong Kong believe more study of this association will help researchers develop interventions to prevent disc degeneration.

Back Pain Solutions

When medications or other treatments don’t resolve back pain issues, minimally invasive alternatives to surgery may be all that’s needed. Instead of extensive back surgeries, Laser Spine locations in Tampa, Philadelphia, Scottsdale, Oklahoma City, and Houston perform minimally invasive procedures to treat conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, pinched nerves and arthritis in the spine.

The best solution for back pain caused by extra weight is weight loss, weight maintenance and exercise. Try simple stretching, crunches and pelvic tilts, all done by laying flat with knees bent. Dr. Oz recommends watching out for weight gain to avoid back pain and cautions that gaining weight puts pressure on the lower back, a common area for pain and discomfort. Exercises that strengthen back and abdominal muscles and protect the structures in the spine relieve sore, stiff muscles, prevent spinal disc problems and can eliminate back pain. Low-impact aerobic exercises, spine stabilization, strength training exercises, yoga and Tai Chi all strengthen and protect abdominal muscles and spinal structures, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center.