Why does my back suddenly go?
Loads of us have been there, one minute you're fine, the next doubled over in agony! It's always the same story "I was only..." Sure, you would expect that much pain from an obvious injury, but why from simply bending over? Or doing something you've done many times before with no problems? Or seemingly nothing?
The truth is, it wasn't that one movement that caused your injury, rather (excuse the pun) it was the straw that broke the camel's back. When we fall into bad habits of poor posture, incorrect lifting techniques, prolonged sitting, etc, etc, we are repeatedly putting strain on our bodies. This results in "micro-traumas". To begin with our brain can ignore these micro-traumas as they are well within our tolerance range. However, if you keep adding more and more stress and strain to your body, it's going to reach a point where it can't tolerate any more.
Many people find that they develop a "weak spot" meaning that same spot goes again and again whether that's once every few weeks, months, or years. This is why prevention is so much better than cure. If we can allow these micro-traumas to heal by taking better care of our bodies before we feel pain, your back will no longer suddenly "go".
So what can you do to help yourself?
Keep moving! We are not designed to stay in one position all day. If you're sat at work, make sure your desk set up fits your body try to get up and move at least every 30 mins if possible - even if to go for a short walk to get a glass of water
Watch your posture! The best way to do this is to have someone to hold you accountable! Pair up with someone who also wants to improve their posture and point out when the other persons slouching, or are holding their shoulders too high or staring down at their phone too long!
Exercise! Yoga and Pilates are great at improving strength and flexibility which helps build our bodies tolerance whilst also teaching us how to correctly use our muscles
Get a check up! regular massages and Chiropractic treatments can spot problems before they become agony. Also if you feel a niggle, you don't have to wait for it to get worse before booking your appointment - catch it early