Lose Weight With Back Problems

Ready to get started on those new years resolutions? If you’re one of the many Americans suffering from obesity, a renewed focus on weight loss is likely high on your priority list for the new year.

Not only does a healthier weight make us look and feel better, it also has numerous physical benefits such as decreased blood pressure and improved sleep and heart function. And there is one more important health bonus from weight loss that is often overlooked but is central to our lives: improved spine health.

Weight loss can have dramatic improvements in the strength and function of our low back and spine. To understand this, we have to appreciate spine mechanics: Increased body weight causes a corresponding increase in pressure on the intervertebral discs, the jelly discs that act as shock absorbers and allow flexibility with bending and twisting. With increased weight, there is increased pressure. This additional force increases risk of injury to the most vulnerable discs in the lowest part of the spine.

Ways To Avoid Back Pain

The most common discs involved in low back pain are the L4-L5 and L5-S1, located at the lowest part of the spine.  Excess weight increases the stress and pressure on these discs, increasing the risk of disc disease such as disc bulge or herniation, conditions often associated with low back pain and even sciatica.

Obesity is also linked to arthritis. While we commonly associate obesity with arthritis pain in the knees and hips, we can add to this list worsened back arthritis, also known as facet disease. Excessive weight places unnatural pressure on the small joints in the back of the spine known as the facets. These joints, smaller than the size of our knuckles, help us rotate our spines and stay flexible. Over time, these small joints become stressed from many factors, including excessive weight, that cause inflammation in these joints and, in turn, low back pain.

Taking these considerations together, here is ’s 2017 New Year’s Resolution message: Weight loss is critical and helps immensely in improving our spine health. Even small reductions in weight decrease the pressure on the discs of the low back and decrease the stress on the small joints of the spine. Ultimately, weight loss can help decrease low back pain, improve routine functions such as standing and twisting our low back and help us successfully develop healthier spines and improved quality of life.

Does Losing Body Weight Help With Relieving Back Pain?

This year, while working toward a healthier you and challenging yourself to stick with your resolution, think about your spine — your back pain — as added motivation to reach your weight loss goals. At , we consider all conservative options as part of our approach to relieve pain and improve lives, including an emphasis on healthy living and spine health as part of our approach to treating our patients. Dr. Jay Michael Snow and the team at St. Louis Bariatrics specialize in weight loss, and we understand that people often have other health issues that prevent them from living healthier and more active lives

. Back pain is a common ailment among people seeking to lose weight, and our patients are not alone – eight in ten Americans experience chronic back pain at some point in their lives. We know that a balanced and healthy lifestyle incorporates regular physical activity, but how do you get exercise when you’re dealing with chronic back pain? Well, the right exercises can actually help alleviate back pain! If you are suffering from back pain or mobility issues, here are some tips and ideas for your fitness routine.

Most people know that yoga can increase flexibility, but studies show that regular yoga practice can also improve back pain and build strength in back muscles

An Overview Of Low Back Pain

. There are many different types of yoga, so if you’ve tried it in the past and didn’t enjoy it, there may be another type of practice that is right for you. If you’re intimidated by the idea of perfect yoga bodies bending like pretzels, rest assured that there are yogis of all shapes and sizes and many welcoming studios that have classes for beginners. Classes that are labeled “power” or “Bikram” may be faster paced and more challenging. Look for classes geared toward beginners or “restorative” classes. A trained yoga instructor will help you use proper form and alignment, but you can also try yoga at home with free online classes from websites such as Do Yoga With Me.

Swimming can provide a full body workout that strengthens core muscles with minimal impact to joints. It can also be effective in relieving back pain

. But before you jump in the pool, keep in mind that certain swimming strokes can aggravate back pain. The breaststroke and backstroke may be better for swimmers with back pain, while the butterfly and freestyle should be avoided. If you haven’t been trained in proper form or swimming technique, you may want to consult a trainer or start with water therapy sessions.

Say Goodbye To Post C Section Back Pain With These 10 Remedies

Don’t underestimate the power of simple stretches. Stretching is not just for pre and post workout. Daily stretches when you wake up in the morning can alleviate tightness in the back. The key to getting maximum benefit from stretching is consistency. This video shows simple stretches that can be performed daily to relieve back pain. If you spend your day sitting at a desk, give yourself reminders to practice good posture and take a short break to do stretches such as these that you can do from your office chair.

Back pain sometimes occurs because your back overcompensates for weak muscles. Building up the muscles in your arms, shoulders, back, abdominals, and even your legs can help protect your back. If you suffer from back pain, your instinct may be to avoid weight bearing exercise, but studies show that resistance exercises or strength training with light weights can be beneficial for people with mild to moderate chronic back pain.

A physical therapist or experienced personal trainer can provide you with a personalized strength building plan and coach you on proper form. For exercises at home, try these back strengthening exercise videos.

Can Weight Loss Help To Relieve Back Pain?

Sometimes the simplest solution is the best! If you’re overwhelmed by exercise options, start with walking. A medical study of U.S. military veterans with chronic back pain found that walking for exercise was effective in managing and preventing the recurrence of back pain.

The key to walking for fitness is to stay mindful of your body. Keep your shoulders down and back, pull your abdominal muscles in, and walk at a pace that is comfortable but quicker than a stroll. Keep the focus on walking and breathing (no texting on your walk!) Read more tips for walking to relieve back pain.

Whichever exercise you choose, keep in mind that consistency is the key to results. You may not find immediate relief from back pain after the first time you stretch, or lose any weight after your first week of daily walking, but if you stick with it you can experience benefits such as increased flexibility, reduced pain, and elevated energy.

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Dr. Jay Michael Snow and the team at St. Louis Bariatrics are committed to helping patients live healthier, more active lives. Contact us to schedule an appointment.

2 Sawyer AM, Martinez SK, Warren GL (2012) Impact of Yoga on Low Back Pain and Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Yoga Phys Ther 2:120. doi:10.4172/2157-7595.1000120Most of us already know that being overweight can contribute to a wide variety of health problems. Many people also realise that being overweight puts additional strain on the body – the typical example is the knees. What’s less known is the effect that being overweight can have on the spine!

While there are a multitude of excellent reasons to get in shape, you might also like to know that doing so can go a long way to prevent and reduce back pain. If you need to shed a few pounds, read on to learn about fascinating research, which is inspiring many patients to watch what they eat and exercise regularly.

Reasons You're Gaining Weight Back After Losing It — Eat This Not That

The link between spinal health and being overweight isn’t always Widely discussed, but it should be since every one of the factors l inking obesity with back pain is also a risk factor for a common spinal problem. This condition is called vertebral subluxation, which leads to the creation of areas in the spine where movement is restricted or spinal bones (vertebrae) are slightly out of place. Doctors of chiropractic are experts in correcting vertebral subluxations, and as a starting point beginning a regime of chiropractic care is an excellent way to quickly reduce back pain – however going forward there’s a lot you can do yourself to augment your care, making your pain reduction much faster.

We tend to use the word “weight” rather unthinking when talking about our bodies – what we are really talking about here is excess body fat, rather than muscle, which weighs more and of course should help to support the spine. Indeed, recent research seems to indicate that not all weight gain is linked with a bolstered risk of back pain – According to a new study, only fat