Back pain? What can we do?

Stay fit and keep active, for one. Obesity - especially a big belly - puts stress on the spine. To make things worse, weak back and abdominal muscles are unable to support the spine properly. Ageing plays a role, of course, and we do tend to experience more back problems as we grow older. However, studies show that the less physically fit tend to be more susceptible to back pain at any age. That is not to say you should go out and exercise strenuously, especially if you've been sedentary for a while. To prevent exercise related injury, it's important to ease yourself gently into exercise; we advocate moderate exercise done on a daily basis.                And, of course, don't smoke. Smoking increases the risk of both low back pain and sciatica. What's more, it slows down the pace of healing, because it blocks the delivery of nutrients to the spinal discs.
Yoga is also a highly suitable form of exercise for back pain and strengthening of the back.