More than every second German complains about back or neck pain at least once a year. In a 2020 RKI study, 61.5 percent of adults stated that they had experienced corresponding pain in the last twelve months. According to Jens Lohmann, head doctor of the back institute and spine surgery at the Schön Klinik Hamburg Eilbek, this can be attributed to the modern lifestyle.
“We move far too little. Our entire body is designed for movement,” says Lohmann in an interview with FOCUS online. Instead, we sit at desks for hours every day and get around in cars. These long, rigid activities in particular are major risk factors for back problems.
What exactly causes them to arise cannot, however, be answered in general terms. There are different and, above all, individual factors, says Lohmann. “But muscles and ligaments are often involved.” If the body lacks stability or mobility, pain occurs. Stress, psychosocial factors and signs of aging can also play a role.
Excruciating back pain? Movement is the be-all and end-all
Since the causes are so individual, there is no one exercise for back pain that will generally help everyone affected, says Lohmann. “Depending on where the pain comes from, there are different movement approaches,” says the expert. “In principle, any type of exercise is good. But what is important and right for each individual varies.” If you lack flexibility, yoga can be a good approach. For people whose musculoskeletal system requires more stability, Pilates would be more useful instead.
That’s why it makes sense to clarify beforehand what the problem is. Together with a physiotherapist or sports scientist, a movement concept that corresponds to the pain could then be developed. You can simply continue the exercises later on your own. Once the body is in a stable state, it will forgive if an exercise is not carried out completely correctly.
“In any case, movement is the be-all and end-all,” emphasizes Lohmann. You shouldn’t be afraid of movement or of doing something wrong. He advises listening to your own body feeling and being patient. “Our body actually signals us very well when something is not good for it.” It often helps to integrate small movements into everyday life. For example, when working at a desk, taking short breaks to move and stretch your body or taking daily walks.
The expert also recommends exercise for acute pain such as lumbago. “Just lying down is exactly the wrong approach.” Instead, you can try to move your body carefully, for example by lying on the floor. Mild painkillers in low doses are helpful. Heat also helps to relieve acute pain in the muscles.
If you have these symptoms, you should see a doctor
The crux of the matter with back pain: The severity depends on the individual, the spectrum varies between unproblematic complaints, called non-specific pain, and serious illnesses. In order to find out where the symptoms can be classified, it is important to observe the pain and, in an emergency, consult a doctor.
There are three such symptoms for which those affected are advised to consult a doctor:
The pain radiates to the extremities and leads to paralysis and loss of strength in the arms or legs due to affected nerves. There is a diagnosis of osteroporosis and the pain occurs suddenly and acutely, indicating a spontaneous fracture. Despite exercise, the pain does not go away even after four to six weeks.
Surgery only last option
Those affected do not have to be afraid of the treatment. “Operations are often the last step and are only carried out if there is an appropriate diagnosis, for example if symptoms of paralysis occur, such as a herniated disc,” explains Lohmann. Conservative treatment methods are usually exhausted first.
This includes functional treatment through physiotherapy. Here we try to get back into movement together with the patient. Pain therapy through medication or injections can be used as a support. “But this is not the only therapeutic measure,” emphasizes the expert. Movement is the most important thing in any case.
An operation is always the last option, says Lohmann. “If you can’t get the pain under control despite conservative methods, you can consider surgery.” If a patient has the feeling that a doctor is acting too hastily, it is worth getting a second opinion.
However, before it gets to that point, those affected have many options for treating their back pain themselves. “Avoid sitting for too long and rigidly and move around, no matter what. That’s the absolute most important thing.”