Put my back out and can't straighten up

The good news is you're not alone with back pain.  Back injuries and low back pains are almost as prevalence as the common cold.  We're all susceptible to at least one episode of mechanical back pain.  It's one of the disadvantages of being upright and daily living.  And most back pains and injuries are from unassuming, normal daily routine like loading the dishwasher or drying your hairs rather than blunt trauma.  Why is that?  How can someone simply bend and turn the wrong way and get rewarded with breathe taking back pain and spasm and hunch over like a rejected tulip?

 Many people are living with back stiffness and tightness, especially in the morning or after prolonged sitting.  Many continue to play Russian roulette with the subtle back ache, tightness and stiffness, and think nothing of it.   They often contribute this to "getting old".  Unfortunately, this time bomb is waiting to explode.  And all it needs is a harmless, unassuming task.  It's the straw that breaks the camel's back.  And boom!  You put your back out.  Turn off the lights cause the party is over.  Here comes the welcoming committee:  back pain, back spasm and back stiffness.

 Your torso is stabilized by three systems working closely together: the central nervous, muscle and ligament systems.  The central nervous system controls, coordinates and monitors the other two systems; it's the computer CPU.  The muscles stabilize, support and move the spine and other joints.  The ligaments only stabilize and support the spine and other joints.  When all three systems work in harmony, you have a strong and stable back and spine.  What happens when one or two of these systems malfunction or continuously work overtime? 

 It's proper supervision, coordination and motor control that prevent back pains and injuries, not strength.  The muscles and ligaments constantly provide feedbacks about their motor activities to the central nervous system.  And the central nervous system monitors, coordinates and adjust their motor activities accordingly. 

 Most back injuries and lasting back pains, (the back pains that didn't go away in a few days), are from repetitive and cumulative micro-traumas and sustained static compressive loadings to the muscles and ligaments. 

 Poor posture, prolonged sitting, slouching, hunching over and repetitive lifting put a lot of strain and stress to the muscle and ligaments.  Without their continual support, your torso (back and spine) would flop and fall over due to gravity.  So, when you're constantly loading your muscles and ligaments in such ways, they can be tired out.  Their feedbacks to the nervous system are not properly maintained.  The nervous system is not updated regularly.  And that's when your back and spine are no longer stable and strong.

 The muscles and ligaments can be caught off guard without proper supervision, coordination and motor control from the nervous system.  You simply turn or bend your back. And boom!  You're greeted with disabling back pain and spasm.  Now you're hunched over and can't straighten up your back. 

If you're living with back stiffness, tightness and the occasional aches and soreness, please consult with a chiropractor.  A well design chiropractic treatment programs should include spinal adjustments, soft tissue treatments, rehab exercises and trainings that restore functions, stability, motor controls and coordination.