We can easily say that low back pain is one of the most prevalent health issues these days. As a matter of fact, it is estimated that 80 percent of the population experiences pain in the lower back (lumbar) at least once in their lifetime.
Therefore, low back pain is one of the major health issues and it is the most common cause of absence from work. Low back pain is also referred to as lumbago, hexenschuss, or witch stab, which tells a lot about its character and sudden occurrence.
WHAT IS LOW BACK PAIN?
The spine is complex set of vertebrae and it consists of 7 cervical, 12 thoracic and 5 lumbar vertebrae as well as cartilage rings. The rings are responsible for the launch of vertebrae and are linked to many muscles, nerves, ligaments, and blood vessels.
The spine itself provides proper posture and the vertebrae are arranged in tube shape shielding canal through which the nerve roots of the arms and legs as well as the spinal cord pass.
Due to its multiple functions, the spine undergoes constant mechanical action of the load, including shear, bending, twisting, train, and pressure, all of which cause overuse. All parts of the spine have different range of mobility. For instance, the breast part has the lowest mobility while the neck is very mobile. The pain is often caused by the degenerative changes which are result of the transition between one part of the spine to another.
RISK CATEGORY
The group of people who are at highest risk of developing low back pain includes:
- People who work physical work in adverse posture, mostly sedentary job
- Older people with degenerative changes
- People with osteoporosis
- People with congenital anomalies of the spine after who had undergone injures and surgery of the spine
TREATMENT AND PREVENTION
According to the researchers, low back pain can be alleviated with the help of comfrey, a herb which grows on wet meadows, ditches near water, or fields. A mixture containing the herb of comfrey has shown effective during a 5-day study done on individuals with back pain. The group of researchers examined 120 participants which pain in the lower and back pain.
According to the results of this study, the extract of this root is extremely effective in reducing acute pain. The study was done by scientists from the German Sports University in Bonn and the results were published in the British Journal of Sports Medina.
The plant itself has a beet-like root and hairy leaves which have been long used by herbalists. Earlier studies have already shown that comfrey is effective in treating many types of pain and that it works great in gel form against osteoarthritis and dislocation of joints.
Note: Don’t take comfrey in the form of supplement as it may be toxic to the liver.
Source : www.myhealthylifevision.net
