A lot of people suffer from lower back pain, whether acute or chronic. Sadly, no matter how painful it feels, painkillers can't help you. But there is this one alternative medicine, called osteopathy, that aid to ease the pain.
Osteopathy can help improve the health of your body systems by "manipulating and strengthening the musculoskeletal framework." There are basic beliefs that your body has a track record of your illness and injury. So by "observing your movement, exercising your joints, sensing fluid flow, and palpating muscle groups," osteopaths can see where the pain and discomfort are coming from and treat it.
"Osteopathy considers the entire body in an injury. All elements of the posture give us clues as to the extent of an injury or why it occurred," osteopath Jonine Nash told the South China Morning Post. "We treat not just the area of pain or symptoms, but any area which is contributing to its presentation."
While practicing at Central Healing and the Matilda Medical Center, both in Hong Kong's Central business district, Nash revealed that the most common back problems Hongkongers experience have a link to their lifestyles. Working long hours in a bad posture without rest and exercise lead to back pain. It also has a connection with unhealthy eating habits, overweight, stress, and lack of sleep.
Daily Mail Online reported that taking painkillers can't help ease lower back pain. There is a study that proved painkillers don't work to relieve the pain. Taking painkillers can do more harm than help alleviate what you feel.
The publication noted that millions of people with back problems receive the wrong treatment. Some people are even wrongly prescribed with analgesic and unnecessary surgery.
Evidence suggests simple exercises and stretches can help improve lower back pain than painkillers. It is more effective to ease the pain and lessen the symptoms. The most preferred treatments to relieve the pain are Pilates, yoga, and massages.
Nash added that office workers should take mini-breaks by putting a small cup at their desk, so they need to get up and have it refilled. Standing can help to avoid lower back pain, but prolonged standing is also as bad as prolonged sitting.
The osteopath also suggested that back mobility exercises can fight accumulative tension, prevent injury, and help improve your sleep. Daily stretching and staying hydrated can also aid lower back pain.
For people who suffer stiffness, Nash advised that they could use a foam roller for deep joint articulation and muscle lengthening. It could also use in different parts of the body. You can also use it on your spine to support segmental joint mobilization and restores flexibility.