| Back Pain and Obesity | | | | and pressure of the lower back. |
| | | | |
| Dr. Michael Berke, D.C. | | | | You may try to dismiss the cause of some of |
| | | | these spinal disorders to the process of |
| MassageMaster.net, L.L.C. | | | | normal aging. It is true that with age body |
| | | | tissues can cause changes to spinal anatomy. |
| According to the American Obesity | | | | However, if you are overweight or obese, |
| Association, approximately 65 percent of | | | | chances are you have, or will have, back |
| adult Americans (about 127 million) are | | | | pain. |
| categorized as being overweight or obese. The | | | | |
| truth is that obesity is becoming a global | | | | A sedentary lifestyle coupled with an |
| epidemic. I don't want to dwell on the | | | | unbalanced diet can affect the density, or |
| numerous causes of this problem (at some time | | | | strength of the bones (spinal vertebrae). |
| in the future, I will write helpful articles | | | | When the structural architecture of a |
| regarding this subject) but I would like to | | | | vertebral body is compromised, it is at risk |
| help anyone who is overweight or obese | | | | for fracture. Vertebral fractures can be |
| understand and fight the causes of back pain | | | | painful and disabling. If you have been |
| and posture problems. | | | | diagnosed with osteoporosis, you have |
| | | | probably lost between 25-30% of desirable |
| Most people know that obesity contributes to | | | | bone density. If the diagnosis is |
| the development of coronary heart disease, | | | | osteopeonia, bone loss has been in the range |
| diabetes, high blood pressure, and colon | | | | of 10-15%. |
| cancer. However, did you know that obesity is | | | | |
| a contributing factor to back pain? Being | | | | Obesity may aggravate an existing low back |
| overweight or obese can significantly | | | | problem and contributes to recurrence of the |
| contribute to symptoms associated with | | | | condition. Unhealthy posture accounts for |
| osteoporosis, osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid | | | | neck and back pain. A level of physical |
| arthritis (RA), degenerative disc disease | | | | fitness is necessary to properly support the |
| (DDD), spinal stenosis, and | | | | spine. According to the Surgeon General's |
| spondylolisthesis. | | | | "Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease |
| | | | Overweight and Obesity" 40% of adults in the |
| The spine is designed to carry the body's | | | | United States do not participate in any |
| weight and distribute the loads during rest | | | | leisure-time physical activity and less than |
| and activity. When excess weight is carried, | | | | 1/3 engage in at least 30 minutes of physical |
| the spine is forced to absorb the burden, | | | | activity most days. |
| which may lead to structural compromise and | | | | |
| damage. This is most applicable to the weight | | | | Another consideration is where meals are |
| bearing joints, such as those of the lumbar | | | | eaten. In 1992, 38% of the food dollar was |
| spine, hips and knees. | | | | spent on foods eaten away from home (5). It |
| | | | can be difficult to control what you eat and |
| One region of the spine that is most | | | | how the food is prepared (e.g. fried versus |
| vulnerable to the effects of obesity is the | | | | broiled) at a restaurant; especially 'fast |
| lower back; the lumbar spine. Lack of | | | | food' establishments. |
| exercise and bodily conditioning leads to | | | | |
| poor flexibility and weak muscles in the | | | | If you are overweight, obese, or working at |
| back, pelvis, and thighs. This can increase | | | | maintaining a healthy weight, there are many |
| the curve of the lower back causing the | | | | tools available to empower your efforts. |
| pelvis to tilt too far forward. Further, this | | | | First, I strongly suggest you see a qualified |
| is detrimental to proper posture and as | | | | health care practitioner to diagnose the |
| posture weakens, other regions of the spine | | | | cause of the pain. Then, aside from the |
| (neck) may become painful. Think of the | | | | obvious necessary weight loss, you can start |
| mechanics of the back of a pregnant woman, | | | | a careful program of stretching and exercises |
| weight (is this case a baby) pulls the | | | | specifically designed for beginners. |
| abdomen forward, thus increasing the curve | | | | |