Low Back Pain in the Elderly

It is now known that acute low back pain tends to occur less once we pass the age of 55; so if you are over 55 or thereabouts, you may notice that you experience a more persistent ache in the low back but no longer have the acute and severe episodes that affected you in your more active and vigorous days. Nevertheless, this aching can cause significant problems, especially if you are forced to reduce activity. The human body thrives on activity and decays with prolonged inactivity. It is undesirable for any of us, irrespective of age, to reduce our levels of activity. Only if reduced activity is forced upon us by Significant health-related problems should we exercise less.You may also be told that you have degenerative changes in your back or that you have arthritis and will just have to live with it.While it may be true that your back has worn somewhat with ageing, it is certainly not true that you will just have to live with it.

It has been found that many people who have joints in their spines that are worn with age have never had back pain, and we now know that the wearing in itself is not a cause of pain.It is my experience that there are few persons who will not derive some benefit from the postural advice or the exercises, or both.

Every older person should carry out the advice regarding the correction of the  sitting, standing an lying postures. Not all of you in the older group will be able to carry out all the exercises as advised, but you should all try. I have found that age is not necessarily a barrier to the successful application of the exercises, and although there are some who may not succeed because of weakness or disability, most will be able to advance at least part way through the recommended programme. My advice to you is to start by perhaps reducing the number of exercises to be performed at each session and to perform fewer sessions during the day. Do not hurry the process, and always rest adequately after completing the exercises-properly supported in the correct position, of course!