Common Back Problems

1
Common Back Problems

• These slides highlight some of the
• causes of back injury
• types of injury that occur
• symptoms related to back pain
• preventive measures to avoid back injury

2
Common Back Problems

• Muscle sprain
• A pull on the soft muscle fibres causing bruising
  inside the muscle.
• Causes some of the following symptoms -stiffness,
  pain, aching, bruising.

3
Common Back Problems

• Overuse syndrome
• Repetitive use of the same muscle group or area
  of the body.
• For example keyboard use, digging the garden,
  decorating etc.

4
Common Back Problems

• Ligament sprain
• Excessive strain on the joints and those
  ligaments attached to those joints.
• For example football injury, ankle sprain,
  whiplash of the neck, etc.

5
Common Back Problems

• Disc Problems
• Acute due to excessive and unusual stress and
  strain forces on the back.
• Chronic due to ageing, wear and tear and past
  injury.

6
Common Back Problems

• Incorrect lifting
• Always lift with the least strain possible on
  your back.
• Do not overload your spine with excessive
  weights.

7
Common Back Problems

• Bad posture
• Slumping in soft chairs.
• Standing with your weight on one leg.
• Sitting with legs folded to one side.
• Slipping down the car seat when driving.
• Leaning against an object, e.g. a wall, a desk.
• Walking with your head forward and having rounded
  shoulders.

8
Your Back in Daily Life

• You must be aware of your back posture on a day
  to day basis.
• The following slide shows the actual pressure in
  kilograms on EACH disc in your spine in various
  postures.

9
Your Back in Daily Life
10
Your Back in Daily Life

• Good posture does not only mean when lifting or
  standing. It can be applied to every functional
  activity you do. This includes lying, sitting at
  the computer, driving, picking up a child etc. It
  is up to you to ensure that you maintain good
  posture in all these circumstances.

11
Your Back in Daily Life

• Sitting in a chair place your forearm in the
  curve of your lower back and sit back in your
  seat this gives you an idea of a good sitting
  posture
• Standing with your back against a let your head
  and bottom touch the wall, this gives you an idea
  of a good standing posture