I just bent over and now I can't move!!!!

Has this ever happened to you or maybe someone you know? One minute everything is ticking along fine, the next minute you are on the floor or bent in some awkward position, clutching your back crying out in pain something like 'MY BACK' or 'I CAN'T MOVE'. It seems so innocent and so out of the blue. All you did was simply do something that you've done hundreds of times before, except this time it has ended up with a very different outcome. What happened?

You've probably heard the old adage 'The straw that broke the camel’s back?' Well, in this case, it was the bend, twist or reach that sent your back muscles into spasm. You see, your body can put up with a tremendous amount of stress, however it too has a breaking point which is usually in the form of excruciating lower back pain.

Due to a variety of factors, including posture, stress, physical activity, injury, etc, our muscles tend to fatigue and tighten over time. As they tighten, they also shorten. You still expect the same amount of work from your muscles so they then start to pull on another set of muscles in order to still function properly. It can be at this stage that you may have felt a twinge or slight spasm but thought nothing about. It's not until that intense painful episode occurs that you know something is wrong.

If your painful episode is bad enough, you will most likely seek treatment. Unfortunately, if it's not too painful or if the pain only lasts for a short time, most of us tend to think the problem has gone and we go back to normal. What most people don't know, however, is that just because the pain has disappeared, it doesn't mean the problem has. It's still there lurking and tightening all the while.

If a muscle becomes fatigued, it will generally tend to pull on a joint (hip, knee, ankle or shoulder, elbow, wrist) or spine for more strength. This is where we run the risk of causing joint or disc problems, which is a whole new topic for another blog!

So, if you've experienced this in the past or know someone who has, please take it seriously and seek treatment. You'll be thankful you did!