Low Back Pain

At a glance

The spine is made up of 24 vertebrae, cushioned by tough, fibrous intervetrebral discs, arranged in three curves that form a natural S-shape. The lumbar spine, which is the site of low back pain, absorbs nearly all of your torso stress when you stand, sit or move.

Low back pain is a major health and economic concern in most countries. As one of the leading causes of physical limitation, low back pain is a chief source of incapacitation, suffering and expense. At some time in their lives, 60% to 80% of the population will have low back pain. However, low back pain and disability do not progressively increase with age. Preventive measures include strengthening of the back and adopting good body techniques.

To combat low back pain, the use of exercise to improve strength, mobility, coordination and endurance cannot be underestimated. Much emphasis has been placed on muscular strengthening exercises to add stabilization and support to the trunk area. A convincing relation also exists between low back pain and decreased muscular endurance. The application of endurance exercises involving the back and abdominal muscles is therefore prescribed.

Since aerobic fitness is highly associated with overall fitness and weight management – being overweight or unfit only exacerbates the problem – the importance of aerobic fitness to help reduce low back pain cannot be denied.