Your spine is a complex part of your body – it requires proper posture, flexibility, coordination, and strength, in order to do its job correctly. When one of these elements is altered, your spine can emit painful responses that can settle in other nearby parts of the body. According to the National Institute of Health, approximately 80% of adults will experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is actually the most commonly reported location of pain across the globe. But how often is the source actually another part of your body?
Pain is usually connected. Your spine is a lengthy structure, and pain can travel along it. Let’s say you are prone to neck pain – perhaps you have a slouched posture from sitting at a desk all day and the pressure radiates in your shoulders. Or, maybe you’ve had a previous injury, such as whiplash, that still elicits painful stings every now and then. Now, let’s say you begin feeling pain in your lower back in addition to your neck pain. Why does this happen?
Basically, the pains are connected to each other. Your head weighs about 10-12 pounds, which is roughly the weight of a bowling ball. When you slouch, or compensate pain by realigning your body, your back muscles have to work extra hard to keep you from toppling forward. Have you ever been so tired that your head begins to bob and it jolts you awake? That’s because your head is heavy! The weight from the motion wakes you back up because your body isn’t used to carrying it in that way.
This is also why pain in your lower back may occur as a result. Your back muscles are working in overdrive and may be constricting to try and hold you up. If you notice neck and back pain at the same time as one another, try sitting up straighter – it should help ease some of the stress!
Is your neck the culprit?
The most common combination of pain is in the neck and the back. If you are experiencing both, it is most likely stemming from the neck. We don’t typically think about it, but we use our necks for a lot of our daily activities. Even simple things, such as turning to grab something out of the cupboard or looking over your shoulder when backing out of a driveway, use a lot of neck muscles. When you do simple tasks such as these, do you find yourself turning your entire body, as opposed to just your head? If so, you could experience back pain along with your neck pain.
When you have limited motion in your neck, your body compensates by twisting more than it usually would, thus over-rotating your lower back. This could cause a source of pain or general discomfort in the area, due to abnormal overuse. If you are experiencing neck pain, back pain, or a combination of both. At Reddy Care Physical and Occupational Therapy, we can get you set up with the right therapist for you. Call today to schedule a consultation!
Great Neck: 475 Northern Blvd., Ste.11, Great Neck, NY 11021 Tel. (516) 829.0030
Farmingdale: 309 North West Dr., Farmingdale, NY 11735 Tel. (516) 420.2900
Woodbury: 150 Woodbury Rd., Woodbury, NY 11797 Tel. (516) 367.1111
Deer Park: 2024 Deer Park Ave., Deer Park, NY 11729 Tel. (631) 243.0247
North Shore Towers: 272-78 Grand Central Pkwy., Floral Park, NY 11005 Tel. (516) 344.0030
Bayside - Aquatic Therapy: 208-32 Cross Island Pkwy., Bayside, NY11360 Tel. (718) 224.8480
Oceanside: 2421 S Long Beach Rd., Oceanside, NY 11572 Tel. (516) 992.2282
New York City: 250 West 93rd Street, New York, NY 10025 Tel. (212) 580.0125
Bay Shore: 1470 Sunrise Highway Bay Shore NY, 11706 Tel:(631)-446.1480
Amityville: 565 Albany Ave Amityville NY, 11701 Tel:(631)-532.0906
In-Home Physical & Occupational Therapy (Home Care): Tel: (516) 829.0030
*Home therapy servicing Long Island, Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, the Bronx & Manhattan*
Sources: Resource 1 Resource 2
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Written by:
Dr. Vinod Somareddy, PT, DPT
President
Reddy Care Physical Therapy
Reddy Care Occupational Therapy
Reddy Care Aquatic Therapy
