Back pain: get moving

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Extract from the article: Back pain is one of the most common ailments of our time. Worldwide statistics show that four out of five people will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. This pain is located either in the back (dorsalgia) or in the lower back...

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Back pain is one of the most common ailments of our time. Worldwide statistics show that four out of five people will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives.  This pain is located either in the back (dorsalgia) or in the lower back (lumbago). 

According to Hervé Kamda, a state-qualified physiotherapist at the Centre National d'Appareillage Orthopédique et rééducation fonctionnelle (CNAO) in Lomé, "back pain can be either temporary or short-lived, or chronic, meaning that it can persist over a long period. Fortunately, however, back pain can be treated in most cases. Its symptoms can vary greatly, and can manifest themselves in different parts of the back".

Causes

The causes are varied: "This pain may be the result of poor posture, which is ephemeral, or it may be linked to a congenital deformity or a deformity caused by trauma or an accident. In the event of persistent pain, an X-ray prescription will reveal the actual origin of the problem," says Hervé Kamda.  Once the diagnosis has been made, it's time to act. Mild to moderate back pain can be treated in the acute phase with a painkiller sold in pharmacies, but serious, chronic cases require physiotherapy sessions. “In any case, when you feel back pain, it's very important to seek the services of a specialist, in particular a physiotherapist, if only to get advice and know what decision or treatment to adopt in the face of your pain”, says the CNAO physiotherapist.

Movement to correct back pain

If physical activity is a daily part of your lifestyle, you can reduce the risk of back pain. “A sedentary lifestyle can lead to obesity and aggravate back pain,” says Hervé Kamda.   But if you're already suffering from back pain, you need to get moving to correct it. Movement is the best treatment for back pain. Movement is the best treatment for back pain, more effective than any medication.

By William O.