Back Off!

By Molly Luffy
Expert Author
Article Date: 2003-06-19

Are you one of the millions of people who suffer with lower back pain and strain? Think you are doomed to a life of steroid injections and anti-inflammatory drugs?

Chances are the culprit is stress! Research shows that stress builds up in our bodies - and that includes our muscles. So could your pain be from overly tight and improperly working muscles? Muscular tension can even affect your spine. If your muscles are not working properly, your spine will not be supported keeping your vertebrae in alignment. One good way to test if your back problems could be stress-related is to start stretching. If you get on a regular stretching routine and your back starts to feel better after a few weeks, perhaps you've found the answer!! Check out an excellent book on the subject of how stress negatively affects our backs, Mind Over Back Pain by Dr. John Sarno, And for an awesome stretching book, try Stretching by Bob Anderson.