Backache is a term that indicates pain anywhere in the back region. 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, especially in the lumbar, lumbo-sacral or in the upper region of the spine. 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. Patients also complain of heaviness, numbness, tingling sensation in hands and legs by pressure on the respective nerves. Patient is unable to sit, stand walk and sleep comfortably. Conventional treatment includes reduction in pain and discomfort with the help of analgesics, muscle relaxants, fomentation, orthopaedic supports like belts etc. There are several yogic treatments to deal with the backache problem.
Causes of Backache
Causes of backache are varied such as spondylosis, 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. 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.
Different Types of Yoga for Backache
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
These Yoga asanas should be strictly performed under the supervision of an experienced Yoga teacher. Besides these a minimum of 10 rounds of Anuloma-Viloma should be practiced. In addition to these 10 times `Om` chanting can also be helpful for suffering from backache.
Precautions to Avoid 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 backache problem, he/she should not stop or reduce the medicines on their own without consulting their doctor.
