Backache is a term that indicates pain anywhere in the back region. There is a dull, continuous pain and tenderness in the back muscles, especially in the lumbar, lumbo-sacral or in the upper region of the spine. Causes of backache are varied such as Spondylosis, spondylitis, spondylolisthesis, slipped disc, strain, sprain, spasm, and weak abdominal or back muscles. However the main reason related to the conditions mentioned above is a faulty posture of the individual during various activities like sitting, standing, walking, sleeping and lifting the weight from the ground. Backache may also be due to structural changes at various levels of spine due to accident resulting in spinal injury including fracture. Backache may be a `referred pain` due to diseases of internal organs, like, pelvic infection of the uterus or the fallopian tubes and the ovary. It may also be from the secondary deposits of lesions of the cancer of the stomach, liver, ovaries and uterus. Psychological problems like anxiety, depression, mental tension, emotional stress, also lead to backache and emotional stress and tendency to avoid work in which the individual is not interested. Physical stress from heavy muscular work may result in backache. Obesity and overweight add to the extra load to be borne by the spine, giving rise to backache. There are several yogic treatments to deal with the backache problem.

A person suffering from backache experiences a dull, continuous or acute unbearable pain or chronic bearable and long lasting pain in the affected region of the back. Patients also complain of heaviness, numbness, tingling sensation in hands and legs by pressure on the respective nerves. Pain along the sciatic nerve is also present in cases suffering from low back region. Patient is unable to sit, stand walk, and sleep comfortably. Spasm of the muscles of the back is often noticed during examination of these patients.

Conventional treatment includes reduction in pain and discomfort with the help of analgesics, muscle relaxants, fomentation, orthopedic supports like belts etc. Psychotherapy is given when excessive muscle spasm is due to strong emotional disturbance known from the history of the illness. A number of yoga asanas can help in reducing the back pain. A list of such asanas will include Tadasana, Chakrasana, Parvatasana, Vakrasana Brahmamudra, Ardha-Shalabhasana, Niralambasana, Pavana muktasana, Ardha-halasana, Setubandh-asana, Makarasana, Gomukhasana, crocodile postures in different variations and Shavasana. Besides these a minimum of 10 rounds of Anuloma-Viloma should be practiced. In addition to these ten times Om chanting can also be helpful for suffering from backache.

Apart from regularly practicing the yogic poses one must also take certain precautions to avoid the problem of back pain. For instance a hard bed should be used for sleeping. One must not sleep on the back with legs fully stretched. Legs should be kept slightly bent and together or one may sleep on any one side by folding one or both the legs. In case an individual is on medicines for his/her backache problem, he/she should not stop or reduce the medicines on their own without consulting their doctor.

DISCLAIMER - The Yoga asanas prescribed above should be strictly performed under the supervision of an experienced Yoga teacher.