5 Common Back Pain Symptoms Experienced By Singaporeans
Are Singaporeans working too hard? A report from VibrantDot says we do1! The survey reveals that 73% of respondents are very passionate about their jobs and love what they do. In fact, 80% of the people surveyed work more than eight hours a day, half of whom clock in more than 10 hours on a daily basis. It’s no wonder that in the past 10 years, Singapore’s productivity growth performance ranked higher than many advanced economies, according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI)2.
But while it’s a source of pride for us to be recognised among the most industrious citizens in the world, its implications could be taking a toll on our overall health. For instance, many Singaporeans suffer from lower back pain, which is the second leading cause of disability in the country, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)3.
Although sitting in front of our devices for long hours may be great for our productivity, we forget that the human body is not built for prolonged inactivity. Our muscles and joints require regular movements for the body to function properly.
It’s our sedentary lifestyle that causes most of the musculoskeletal problems Singaporeans suffer from. Likewise, the increasing rate of obesity is a big factor in many cases of back pain, slipped or herniated disc, and degenerative disc conditions, among others.
What are the back pain symptoms that are common in Singapore?
1. Intense and/or constant pain that usually worsens at night, and does not improve with rest.
Most people habitually ignore the first signs of pain when in fact, it is an indication that something may be wrong with their bodies. People don’t usually realise that we accumulate bad habits as we go through our day-to-day activities, including prolonged sitting, poor sleeping posture, and lack of exercise. Before you know it, the little aches you’ve been feeling have progressed to shooting, burning, or stabbing sensations that are intense and/or constant.
2. Inflammation or swelling in the back area.
Inflammation generally causes pain because the swelling and tissue build-up starts pressing against nerve endings. With spine inflammation, the pressure transmits pain signals to the brain, causing discomfort. It is sometimes accompanied by generalised fatigue, redness, warmth on the pain site, or rashes. If this is the case, it’s best to see a back pain specialist such as a chiropractor as this could be due to spondylosis or arthritis, or other back conditions.
3. A numbness or tingling sensation in the back running down to the legs.
Pain radiating from your lower back down to the back of your leg is a symptom of sciatica. It usually occurs when there is a herniated disk or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis), which compresses the sciatic nerve. As a result, the patient may feel inflammation and numbness on the affected leg. When sciatica is severe, the symptom may progress to uncontrolled bladder and bowel movements, not just numbness and tingling.
4. Decreased range of motion and reduced ability to flex the back.
People experiencing back pain often think it’s best that they keep still, lie down, or not move at all. That’s not true at all! Staying immobile for a long time may, in fact, lead to more pain. There are many reasons why our agility and flexibility decreases. Among these, ageing and being overweight are the leading factors. However, it could also be due to an underlying cause, an undiagnosed scoliosis, for instance. Whatever the root cause, it’s always advisable to consult a trained back pain specialist to help manage the pain.
5. Back injury from gym activities and sports.
Sports injuries occur due to various reasons, including muscle strain, contusion, tendonitis, and ligament sprain. Muscle strain is when the tendon and/or muscle is pulled too far in a particular direction. Contusion is usually as a result of a direct blow to the muscle. Tendonitis is when the tendon becomes inflamed and overstressed because of faulty technique, lack of flexibility and/or inappropriate equipment. Ligament sprain is when the ligament is stretched beyond its normal range. Kissun Chiropractic successfully treats a variety of sports injuries on a regular basis in our sports injury clinic.
How does chiropractic relieve common back pain symptoms?
The level of back pain varies for every individual, and many factors influence the extent of the pain. Regardless of reason or risk factor, a healthy work-life balance would help prevent back pain. However, if you are among the hundreds of working professionals in Singapore, chances are you’re already experiencing some kind of back pain and seeking relief for it.
Chiropractors are among the back pain specialists that you can consult if you prefer a natural approach to avoid medication or surgery. Chiropractors are healthcare professionals concerned with the conservative management of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system comprising the joints, muscles and nerves.
Chiropractic care involves treatments that require using the hands, which are called “adjustments.” Chiropractic adjustments are intended to restore the body’s normal range of motion and reduce nerve irritation.
Chiropractic care also includes ergonomic and postural assessments, nutritional, dietary, lifestyle counselling, cold or heat therapy, and therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises. Chiropractic care showed better results in treating back pain, compared to over-the-counter medication, massage, yoga, or pilates. Surgery is also rarely needed to treat back pain4.
At Kissun Chiropractic, our chiropractors are certified and registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), and insured. This means they are accountable to a higher, more vigorous standard than other chiropractors in Singapore who may not be certified, registered with their home countries, or insured.
Kissun Chiropractic is a trusted and leading Chiropractic clinic in Singapore offering affordable and effective treatments for all ages in the community. We are experienced in treating routine and complex neuromusculoskeletal conditions such as headaches, neck, shoulder and backaches, osteoarthritis, scoliosis, sciatica, pregnancy aches and pains, sports injuries, performing ergonomic assessments and postural checks. Patients’ conditions are managed through natural, safe, non-invasive, drug and surgery free treatments, relying on the bodies’ inherent recuperative functions. Treatment plans are customised to patients’ specific needs and preferences.
Contact us today!
Source:
- Vibrant Dot (2019). https://vibrantdot.co/survey-are-singaporeans-working-too-hard/
- Ministry of Trade and Industry (2020). Drivers of Labour Productivity Growth in Singapore, 2009-2019. https://www.mti.gov.sg
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Singapore Health Data. https://www.healthdata.org/singapore
- Consumer Reports (2011). Alternative health treatments that work. https://www.consumerreports.org