Chronic low back pain: Why does it happen?

in #life7 years ago (edited)
Low back pain is a very frequent and disabling condition. It is estimated that 632 045 people worldwide have low back pain (corresponding to 9.17% of the world population). This is a condition that has reached epidemic proportions, since about 80% of the world's population has already experienced or will experience this pain at least once in their lifetime.
There are people who recover in a month but the majority will have recurrence pain episodes over 12 months, becoming a chronic situation.


  • Why do low back pains become chronic?
In individuals with low back pain there is a decrease in the activation of the deep abs and spinal muscles and an increase of superficial trunk muscles. These are the changes that our body makes to adapt to the pain! The problem is that these changes in postural control of the trunk muscles persist after the lumbar pain episode, contributing to relapses.


  • How these changes in postural control of the trunk muscles affect our brain?


Studies have shown that inhibition of the motor cortex can reduce the postural activity of the trunk muscles. What happens in patients with chronic low back pain is that there is a delay in the activation of the transverse abdomen (TRA) during voluntary movements of the upper limbs.
These deficits in postural activation occur because there has been a reorganization of the motor cortex, caused by the pain and functional limitation that these people acquire.


  • Can we change the plasticity in the motor cortex?
In patients with recurrent LBP, these deficits in postural activity can be trained by qualified motor training. Pilates is a method that involves voluntary contractions of the TrA and multifidus muscles and is associated with improvements in postural activity. This type of exercise induces a greater change of plastic in the motor cortex than strength training, therefore, after training is predicted a reorganization of the motor cortex.

If you want to know more about pilates practice you can visit my last post

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Hi Vannessa. What have you been doing lately? I came to say hi and give you an upvote for this this post. I'm used to doing exercises and I know that the Pilates method is a complete system of exercises that work the entire body, exercises coordinated with deep breathing and fully controlled by the mind.

Hey Krystine!
Lately I have been organizing my next trip, which I will later share with you!
And yes, pilates is a complex method but it has so many benefits. I think people should try, even those who are not accustomed to practicing exercise!
Thanks for passing here!

Cool post... I have lower back pain, but mine is well explained - too much pc, not enough exercise... hehe.

Cheers

Thanks spiritualmax, It's always a pleasure.
You have already taken the first step - identify why there is pain - and I loved your sincerity! :D