Do you recognise this? A sore back because you've been lugging around for too long or not lying comfortably? Back pain is a common problem that can have many different causes. It can be easy to blame external factors, but did you know that there can be a link between mental and physical health? In fact, back pain can also be caused by stress. In this blog, we will tell you more about the link between stress and back pain, how to recognise it and how to deal with it.
Back pain caused by stress
If you experience stress and do not listen to this properly, your body will react to it. You then get more and more physical complaints such as a cramped neck, headache or backache. This has a logical explanation. The moment stress starts expressing itself physically, it causes us to tighten our muscles. The muscles we tighten the most are the muscles along our spine. It is the tension of these muscles that causes us to have back pain.
Vicious cycle caused by stress
The biggest problem with back pain caused by stress is that it can easily create a vicious cycle. When you are stressed, you are more likely to suffer from pain. This in turn affects your mood and makes you less active. This not only affects your social life, but also your physical condition. This is because reduced exercise causes your muscles to weaken and tighten more, leading to more pain. This, in turn, causes you to worry, leading to even more pain.
How do you recognise back pain due to stress symptoms?
There is no clear answer to this question, simply because stress is not the same for everyone. For example, do you have financial problems, too long working weeks or other causes that can cause stress and does it go down your back? Then it seems that your back pain is caused by stress. You may have your suspicions and link it to (possible) stress symptoms, but we don't know for sure.
Tips on how to deal with this yourself
Do you have stress symptoms? Then we have some tips for you that can help:
Get moving!
Swimming combined with a sauna or steam baths can help relieve stress-induced pain. Take regular stretch breaks to loosen tight neck or back muscles. Take a short walk during break or lunch to get your circulation going and reduce stress.
Master the little things in life
Divide problems into smaller manageable units and work on solving the easier aspects first. Learn your limits and say "no" to difficult commitments.
Eat and drink well
Choose nutritious food, eat slowly and savor every bite. Watch how much you eat and drink. Caffeinated coffee, cola and other drinks do little to reduce stress or promote a good night's sleep. Avoid red wine at night as it can make falling and sleeping difficult. A good night's sleep or an afternoon nap can help relieve stress.
Back pain due to stress? FriskFysio helps you!
Sometimes it is hard to believe that we experience physical pain as a result of something psychological like stress. You might be tempted to ignore it and get on with your day, but this will only make the problem worse. Back pain due to stress is most effectively dealt with by identifying the cause of the problem. If you have persistent pain, don't ignore it. From FriskFysio, we can help you with this. Contact us via our contact page, call 085-5000333 or send an e-mail to info@friskfysio.nl and we will help you out!
