I have many women patients who say they have completely given up exercise because the pain makes them so miserable.But of course that starts up a vicious circle.Bed rest,giving up exercise and pain killers are traditional responses to back pain but,although there are many excellent drugs on the market,at our clinic we are beginning to realise the unique benefits of relaxation therapy.Other specialists in the field make a strong case for certain types of exercise,but in our experience they are easily mishandled and can lead to more harm than good.

Now,let's look at some of the reasons why back pain is developing into such a unique menace.In general,the body is pretty good at self-repair.A strain or a blow to a limb,though painful at the time,generally resolves itself.But the body's response to back injury can be very counter-productive.When pain strikes,we attempt to keep the back as immobile as possible,which makes the muscles tense up.Research shows that they often go into spasm,which causes further twisting of the spine.A vicious circle is underway.