Mid Back Pain

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica ( Radiating leg pain ) is the term given to back pain that radiates down the leg and sometimes into the foot. This common pain follows the path of the sciatic nerve, the widest and longest nerve in the human body. The sciatic nerve originates in the spine, passes through some of the buttock muscles, and then travels down the leg, splitting into two different nerves at the knee.

Pregnancy Related Back Pain

Research shows that 50-70% of women experience back pain during or after pregnancy. The last few months of pregnancy when the baby’s weight begins to increase dramatically are usually the most common period where pain begins. There are several reasons why back pain can occur, such as center of gravity changes, additional weight, postural changes, and hormonal changes.

Back Pain Exercise Routine

If you are suffering from back pain, exercise is a great way to help eleviate some of that pain. Please use these helpful exercises below. You can do these exercises in the comfort of your own home, but please let us know if you have any additional questions or take advantage of our FREE assessment!.

Back Posture in Relation to Shoulder Pain

The scapula, or shoulder blade, rests on the rib cage and creates the socket for your shoulder. When you slouch your back, your shoulder blade tilts and rounds forward, altering the position of the shoulder joint. A simple test to demonstrate how posture can affect the shoulder:

Lumbar Disk Herniation/Bulge

Your spine is made up of 24 vertebrae that are each separated by a jelly-like cushion called your Intervertebral Disc. There are 7 vertebrae in your neck (cervical spine), 12 vertebrae in your midback (thoracic spine) and there are 5 vertebrae in your lower back (lumbar spine).

A very common injury in the spine – especially the lumbar spine – is a disc herniation or disc bulge. The most common causes of IVD bulges are gradual IVD degeneration, improper lifting techniques and/or a fall or blow to the back.

Aquatic Therapy for Back Pain

We all have 3 major curves in our spine. A lordotic curve is a forward curve of the spine, as found in the low back and also in your neck. The other spinal curve is a kyphotic curve- rearward curve- and is found in the mid-back (an abnormal kyphotic curve is also known as a “hunchback”). The function of the lumbar spine is to allow bending forward (flexion), bending backward (extension), bending sideways (lateral flexion), and twisting (rotation). Proper spinal alignment when viewed from the side is: the ear is aligned straight above the shoulder, the hip is aligned straight below the shoulder and the ankle is aligned straight below the hip.

Get Back to the Basics!

Here are some gentle back exercises to help keep your core strong and flexible. Remember, if any exercise produces pain, stop immediately and consult a medical professional.

Posture

We have all heard it a thousand times… “Stand up tall, don’t slouch.” Our parents have been preaching it to us all of our lives. Although it is tough to acknowledge… that was good advice! Because our bodies are very efficient; they are constantly adapting to the stresses and demands placed upon them. This means that our bodies will slowly (over time) conform to the postures that they are placed in, and it is safe to say that our lives and all that activities that we fill it with take place in front of us.