Low back pain affects 70% of United States adults at some time in their lives and up to half of US adults have back pain in a given year. Back pain is one of the most common symptoms for patients seeking professional care with back pain being the most common cause of disability for persons under the age of 45. Many injuries are occupational from bending and twisting on a repetative basis.

Although research is not conclusive, there are prevention strategies that most professionals agree on. As a chiropractic physician, I look at the musculo-skeletal balance with the hips and shoulders being level, leg length even, and the head being in a neutral posture.

Second, I look for flexibility checking for normal range of motion and rotation. Third, I look for stability by muscle testing the leg and trunk muscles for balance.

Usually, if there is a weakness, I will find all three conditions present in which one effects the others. For example, imbalance of the leg length or pelvis will effect lumbar joint movement and decrease range of motion. That leads to muscle imbalance and decreased stability of the trunk allowing for a greater chance of injury and pain.

A common condition of the low back is called a "Lower Cross Syndrome" where the hip flexors, low back muscles, and hamstrings are tight and the gluteal and abdominal muscles are weak.

I see this commonly in metabolic syndrome where the stomach hangs over the belt. One way to check this is to measure your circumference of your stomach and if that measurement is over one half your total height, you probably fit into that category of metabolic syndrome.

Back supports, I use for strains/sprains and disc conditions, but not for preventing back injuries. Research does not support it either.

For most people, improve cardio-vascular fitness, back stretching and hamstring stretching exercises, along with toning the abdominals and gluteal muscles. Chiropractic evaluations for balance, improving spinal motion, improving lifting and ergonomic techniques will help.

Remember to continue with healthy life-style changes by eating better and not smoking. Life is a journey not an event. It is the choices we make on a daily basis that makes the difference.

Dr. Rick Haas