Excess Weight Can Cause Back Pain

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Excess Weight Can Cause Back Pain

Being overweight is a common cause of neck or back pain. Excess weight forces the vertebrae and the intervertebral discs of the spine to support more bulk than they’re intended to, sometimes leading to muscle strain or injury. Additionally, our intervertebral discs tend to deteriorate as we age, which means that our body struggles even more to support added weight the older we get.

Because of these factors, people with excessive weight are at greater risk for lower back pain caused by sciatica, osteoarthritis and other conditions. Sciatica, which is pain that shoots through the legs and buttocks as a result of sciatic nerve compression, can be caused by excess weight compressing the spinal discs. Osteoarthritis, characterized as a deterioration of the cartilage surrounding the facet joints of the spine, can be exacerbated by excessive weight because it increases the pressure on the affected bones.

A regimen of exercise and healthy meals can lessen your risk for these conditions and the resulting neck and back pain by reducing the amount of weight your spine has to support. Below are a few tips for losing weight and improving spine health:

Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Not only will this help with weight loss, but walking can also strengthen the muscles of the back, thus lessening the stress put on degenerating discs.
Eat foods rich in calcium, fiber, and omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids. Calcium can help strengthen bones, while fiber can lower your cholesterol and promote weight loss, lessening back pain. Omega-3 and Omega-9 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties, which can be helpful in relieving the pain of osteoarthritis.
Gentle, low-impact exercises, like yoga or swimming, are a great for losing weight, increasing flexibility, and building muscle strength. Exercise also releases endorphins, which are your body’s natural pain suppressants.

As with any regimen of diet or exercise, you should not attempt any sort of weight-loss plan without consulting your doctor. He or she can also help you to determine if your neck or back pain can be effectively treated with weight loss, or if another type of treatment should be considered.

If those measures don’t bring you relief and you are considering surgery for your back or neck pain, the experts at Laser Spine Institute (LSI) may be able to help. Contact us today for more information, or for a free review of your MRI or CT scan.

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