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Safety Net Back Injury Prevention Article
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Back Pain a Common Complaint from Obese Population
Obesity is becoming a common medical condition in America and according to the American Obesity Association, there are more than 60 percent of adults are fall into this category. Risks associated with obesity such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and colon cancer. Back pain is also a problem for those individuals who suffer from obesity. They are at risk for degenerative disc disease, osteoporosis, spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis, and osteoarthritis. Along with these diseases, the three most common back problems in obese patients are degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis (slippage of the lower back disc), and disc rupture or herniation.
One of the purposes of the spine is to carry the body’s weight and disperse the weight encountered during rest and activity. When there is excess weight, the spine then absorbs the burden, which may lead to structural compromise and damage.
The lumbar spine or low back is an area of the spine that is susceptible to the effects of being overweight. The muscles in the back, pelvis, and thighs become frail and inflexible due to a deficiency of exercise or mobility. When the muscles become weak, there is an increase in the likelihood of a curvature of the spine in the lower back region. This will lead to poor posture that will only make the condition and pain in the back worse.
An inactive lifestyle together with an unbalanced diet can change the density, or strength of the bones (osteoporosis). When the structural design of the spinal column is endangered, you become at risk for fracture. Vertebral fractures can be excruciating and disabling. The joints in the spine are called facet joints. Excessive body weight places abnormal amounts of pressure and stress on the joints during movement and at rest (osteoarthritis). Obesity may also aggravate an existing low back problem and contribute to recurrence of the condition. Generally, an unhealthy posture can be the cause of neck and back pain. A level of physical fitness is necessary to support the spine properly.
It is often difficult for a person who is obese to exercise. Often when they try an exercise routine, they find that they are tired and experience shortness of breath. This often leads to a person not wanting to exercise at all and the pain in the back remains the same or worsens. Please remember that if you are having back pain, not exercising will only make it worse. By being still and avoiding exercising you will only further the pain you already experience. When you exercise (gently), you are stimulating healing and a flow of nutrients to the spine. When this happens, the discs will swell with water and then squeeze it out. This is the process that the body uses to exchange nutrients between the discs and other spinal structures. When you choose a sedentary lifestyle, the spinal structure is not receiving the nutrients that it needs to remain strong and healthy.
When you begin to exercise and lose weight, doing so in a healthy way is very important. The key to a healthy diet and exercise is balance. You should intake adequate amounts of vitamins and nutrients but do not go overboard. Before starting any exercise program or diet, it is important to consult with your health care provider. They will assess you and recommend the proper treatment for your body to achieve the maximum results you are looking for. When the burden is lessened on the spine the obese individual will find it increasingly easier to exercise and will notice the pain decreasing.
When a person is obese, they will experience a large number of problems, many of which influence their overall health. Everyone has a different body type and a variety of different health issues can occur. Obesity causes poor circulation throughout the body, weak legs, as well as back pain. These are some of the things that can happen with obesity along with the disease mentioned above. Obesity is defined through the Body Mass Index (BMI) being between 19 and 20. This is when the amount of fat tissue throughout your body is beyond the usual levels based on height, age, and weight. Mortality increase when a person has a body weight 20 percent above average, the death rate among men increases 20 percent and 10 percent for women.
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