Obesity Discussion Forums

[Obesity Discussion]

Obesity can cause back pain
Saturday, August 19, 2006




Dr. Jennifer F. Royer
Cayman Islands Chiropractic
Association


The best way to achieve and maintain a healthy weight is through a balanced diet and exercise. Many people are not aware that being overweight can contribute to lower back pain. Overweight people are at a greater risk for back pain, joint pain and muscle strain than those who are at a healthy weight.

They are also at a greater risk for other major health issues. This is especially true with people that have extra weight around their midsection.

Lower back pain occurs in people with extra weight in their midsection because the excess weight pulls the pelvis forward and strains the lower back. According to the American Obesity Association, episodes of musculoskeletal pain, and specifically back pain, are prevalent among nearly one-third of Americans who are classified as obese. Attention to overall weight is important as every pound adds strain to the muscles, ligaments and vertebrae of the back.

Overweight people may experience sciatica and back pain due to a disc injury. Between each vertebra in the spine is a disc. This disc is like a jelly donut: the inside is jelly and there are outer fibers that are tougher to keep the jelly inside.

The job of the disc is providing shock absorption to the spine and to maintain a healthy opening for the spinal nerves to exit the spinal canal.

One of the reasons discs and spinal structures are damaged is from having to compensate for the pressure of extra weight on the back. This results in lower back pain, pinched nerves and sciatica.

Many people with back problems believe that they should avoid exercise to protect their back from further injury.

In reality, it is the lack of exercise and inactivity that can contribute to further pain and injury. Exercise stimulates healing and the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the body. Activity causes the disc to take in and expel water, which exchanges important nutrients between the discs and other spinal structures.

When enough physical activity is not performed, the discs are deprived of the nutrients that they need to stay healthy and functional.

A health professional should always be consulted before beginning an exercise routine to explain the specifics of a healthy diet, exercise and nutritional supplements. Managing your weight not only reduces back pain, but can also help prevent certain types of back problems in the future.

Obesity and Back Pain

[asyouwish4528]

hi iam very over weight and have a funny shaped body, i have very small skinny legs small ankels and a large body, i also have a cricked back spine. when i start a excercise my legs and ankles and back hurt so bad i can't walk for a day so can someone help me find and way to excercise with out all the pain
'

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by asyouwish4528

hi iam very over weight and have a funny shaped body, i have very small skinny legs small ankels and a large body, i also have a cricked back spine. when i start a excercise my legs and ankles and back hurt so bad i can't walk for a day so can someone help me find and way to excercise with out all the pain
'

Welcome to Obesity Discussion asyouwish4528! Glad to have you with us

There are plenty of ways to exercise without pain.

I don't know where you live, but if it's an option, swimming is phenomenal for being easy on your body (from a pain perspective)

I personally use the elliptical machines for my indoor cardiovascular workouts, because they have do not provide the same shock to your joints/knees/ankles as a stairclimber or treadmill would.

Have you considered a seated exercise bike? Those provide some back support while allowing you to work your legs.

Lifting weights is also great exercise, although not cardiovascular necessarily (unless you circuit train or don't take breaks), you will still lose fat from lifting weights. Lifting weights burns calories during and shortly after your workout, and in addition, the extra lean muscle you obtain will burn fat. Keep in mind every extra pound of muscle you add to your body will burn about 35 calories a day. That doesn't sound like much, but think of it this way. If you add 5 pounds of muscle to your body, you will burn an extra 175 calories a day. That may not sound like much, but consider that 1 pound of fat is equal to 3500 calories. Therefore every 20 days the extra 5 pounds of muscle you just added to your body will burn one pound of fat. Over the course of a year that's 18 pounds of extra fat your extra muscle will have burned off instead of havng your body store it.

Those are just a few options to help you get started on exercise, however there are many more. Let me know if you would like some more suggestions.

[yuliyasha]

Welcome!
I agree, the swimming is the best work out you can do. You don't even have to swim...it is possible to just do repetitive motions like you're riding a bike or stretchy exercizes such as lifting legs while supporting upper body with hands. The boyancy of the water keeps your body weightless and helps to relieve tension from spine and pelvis.
Yuliya