It is estimated that 80% of the American population has had in their lifetime one form of lower back pain.
This makes lower back pain a common health concern and one that has become a major public health issue as it is the number one reason for absenteeism at work.
So What Exactly Is Lower Back Pain?
Lower back pain is often referred to as lumbago and also known in some quarters as hexenschuss or witch stab and it affects the lower spine area.
Our spine consists of vertebrae which can be broken down into;
- 12 thoracic
- 7 cervical
- And 5 lumbar mobile
As well as cartilage rings that is linked with a number of nerves, ligaments, blood vessels and muscles that firm the body’s main bearing assembly.
The spine gives the upright posture of the human body and the spine is formed in a tube like shielding canal that houses the spinal cord as well as the various nerve endings to the joints including the legs and arms.
The spine has multiple functions and so it is subjected to strain and pressure from twisting, bending et al and it can be over exerted.
There are also parts of the spine that are designed to have multiple range of motion, in the ranking the neck is considered highly mobile while the breast region is less mobile.
Now the link between one portions of the spine to the other is subjected to degenerative alterations causing the pain in the back.
High Risk Factors
- A sedentary lifestyle.
- Jobs requiring long hours of maintaining a particular posture.
- If a person has certain ailments like osteoporosis or any other congenital defects of the spine caused by injury to the spine or surgical operations.
How To Prevent And Treat Back Pains
Researchers are of the opinion that comfrey herb which grows freely in fields and wet meadows is an effective natural remedy for back pain.
This herb had its extract made into an ointment and was subjected to rigorous testing to ascertain its efficacy in the treatment of back pain.
It successfully passed a five day testing to heal back pain as tests were carried out on 120 subjects who all had upper and lower back pain.
This research was carried out in Germany at the German Sports University in Bonn while the results of the test were also in the British Journal of Sports Medina.
The result findings concluded that comfrey root extract is a highly potent herb for the treatment of acute back pain.
This herb has been used by alternative medical practitioners for centuries and it has proven to be potent in the treatment of joint dislocation in osteoarthritis. It is available in capsules and should be taken on the prescription of your doctor.
Taking the raw form of this herb can be hazardous to the liver, so the supplement is always preferable.