Forget The Painkillers To Fight Back Pain

It is not uncommon for back pain sufferers to reach for over the counter pain killers such as ibuprofen or take prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs to help ease their pain. However, scientist have found in a new study* that only one in six people achieve any significant pain relief by taking these pills.

Associate Professor Manuela Ferreira, of the George Institute for Global Health in Australia, which carried out the new study, said: “Our results show anti-inflammatory drugs actually only provide very limited short-term pain relief.”

Not only are these drugs providing only very limited short term pain relief they also can have side effects such as gastrointestinal problems. The study, which covered 35 trials involving over 6,000 people found that people taking anti-inflammatory drugs were 2.5 times more likely to suffer from gastrointestinal problems such as stomach ulcers and bleeding.

At any one time, it is estimated that over a sixth of the UK population is suffering from back pain. The cost to the UK economy being estimated at a staggering amount of up to £1billion a year! 31 million days are calculated as having been lost in 2016 because of back, neck and muscle problems according to the Office for National Statistics.

With numbers like these it is apparent that millions of people are taking medications that is not very effective and could be causing them harm as well.

If these painkillers are not the answer what is?

The answer could be as simple as exercise!

Doctors say that following exercise programmes that develop core muscles and in turn strengthen the back are more effective than taking pain killers.

Our chiropractors at Charminster Chiropractic Clinic in Bournemouth believe that the old adage, prevention is better than cure, holds true for reducing the risk of developing back pain.

They are only to aware that increasingly our modern-day lifestyles are putting increasing strains on our backs ad necks. They advise that incorporating simple steps into our daily routines to maintain a healthy posture can make a significant difference to preventing back pain.

One such simple daily exercise programme that has been specifically developed to help people improve their posture and prevent back pain is Straighten Up UK. It has been developed by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) and is designed to promote balance, strength and flexibility in the spine.

The programme is a set of simple exercises that can be done in 3 minutes.

Our chiropractor says: “The programme is designed to be done on a daily basis and should become part of your daily routine, just like brushing your teeth. The exercises can be adapted to suit each person’s capabilities. It is easy to learn and do and can be done by adults and children.”

There are three sections to the programme, each with a specific purpose:

• Stars: Warm Up
• Flying Friends: Posture Care
• Core Balance: Finish the Session
• You can watch the programme below.

If you are suffering back pain then our team of chiropractors in Bournemouth are here to help you. You can call 01202 296 756 to make an appointment to visit one of them.

Remember to check with your GP, chiropractor or healthcare practitioner prior to starting any new form of new exercise.

*The study was published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.