Everyone knows back pain, a pain that can really ruin your day. Many sufferers turn to tablets in order to keep going, but this kind of self-medication helps only a few. The causes can be more effectively combatted with the right back training, for example Qigong.
Back pain is probably the most frequent complaint around, with almost 80 % of the population suffering from it more or less regularly. It is a pain that leads sufferers to turn to medication. But lower back pain can be treated with tablets only to a very limited degree. This was also confirmed by the Cochrane Review, which involved more than 1,800 sufferers. Most pain relief medication contain paracetamol, but the usual dose does not work any better than a placebo in acute cases of lower back pain, according to the data.
The root of the problem
“Non-specific lower back pain” can have many causes; these are often psychosomatic complaints, when too much of a burden is being carried and energy reserves have been almost exhausted. Whoever sleeps too poorly, eats too unhealthily or exercises too little develops back pain more often than people with a healthier lifestyle. This pain usually occurs in the lower part of the back or near the kidneys.
A good option for attacking the causes of the problem at their roots is Qigong, a gentle movement concept from traditional Chinese medicine. It combines flowing movements, the right breathing technique, and relaxation.
Awareness and introspection
Effective exercises that can protect against stress, tension and back pain can be integrated into everyday life without any problem. The basis is correct breathing. According to Japanese tradition (“Hara”), the centre of life can be found in the abdomen, which must be cared for and strengthened. A simple exercise: place your hand on your tummy and breathe deeply and evenly – until you can feel your breathing in your lower abdomen. This trains your perception and strengthens your life’s core.
Before commencing any training, you should consult your doctor, who in the case of back pain can detect where the pain begins and rule out a physical cause. A good way of strengthening your back is a special vertebral Qigong. The body and arms flow in soft wave-like motions, thus loosening up the back muscles.
Try this:
A classic exercise is “silk reeling”. Here you stand up straight and start gentle motions by gyrating your vertebrae in semi-circular movements, like a silkworm. It is important to activate your inner imagination, internalising the movements of the silkworm, and conducting the motion slowly from the hip upwards. These gentle movements loosen the muscles and make the body’s Qi flow.
Movements like this help not only against acute back pain, but can also contribute to avoiding them in the first place.
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