One very devastating condition for an athlete or recreational exerciser to experience is back pain. Not only can it stop you immediately from what you are doing but if not treated correctly it can be a persisting injury that will plague you for many years to come.
Back pain is commonly seen among those who are participating in sports where there is a lot of impact on the joints or where this is a lot of twisting action going on. Examples of these would be running, soccer, gymnastics, figure skating, dance (due to the back bending movements), hockey (high impact nature) and football. Anyone who is involved in these sports in particular should be paying careful attention to this area of the body and should be performing regular resistance training to prevent an injury from taking place.
The most common type of back pain usually seen is in the lower lumbar area as this is what gets hit the hardest with impact. To add to this fact, many people do not use correct posture when participating in activity - or even standing for that matter - which can further aggravate the condition. If you stand sideways while looking into a mirror and notice that you have a large backward curve in your lower lumbar region, you are very swayed in stature and are at a higher risk. To reduce the risk, practice tightening the stomach and bum muscles and pulling the hips up, so as to reduce this curve and prevent unnecessary pressure from being placed in the region.
Also try to actively think when you are participating in exercise to keep the abdominal muscles tight. This will help to support the body when any twisting motion does take place, thus again helping you to reduce your risk for injury.
If you are experiencing issues, first be sure to ice the area immediately to reduce any swelling from taking place. Then try and give yourself a few days away from whatever was causing the issue to see how you recover. If upon return you still find that it is bothering you, it is best to consult a doctor or physiotherapist. This is one thing that you don't want to let go on too long without professional help because if it becomes more severe, the damage may not heal entirely and you could be looking at a long-term battle to get better.
