By Brianna McCabe

Binge watching movies from a fixed position on your bed all day, every day seems like it may very well be the only option to help you power through the coronavirus pandemic while staying at home… but did you know that doing this for too long can potentially lead to body stiffness and increased lower back pain?

According to Sagar Parikh, M.D., an interventional pain medicine specialist at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, about 80% of adults experience lower back pain at some point during their lifetimes due to common causes including:

• Lower back strain
• Arthritis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Improper spine alignment and stability
• Herniated disc
• Radiculopathy or sciatica (pain from the back radiating down the leg)
• Spinal stenosis
• Fracture
• Other causes related to the musculoskeletal system (the body’s form, support, stability and movement mechanisms)

“And now more than ever with this lockdown, people need to get creative to try to prevent and/or alleviate back pain at home,” says Dr. Parikh.

At-home lower back pain therapies

Dr. Parikh advises the following six tips for patients dealing with lower back pain at home:

1. Limit your bed rest. If you have lower back pain, Dr. Parikh recognizes that a person’s first instinct may be to lay in bed or sitting for long periods of time. “This does more harm than good, though” warns Dr. Parikh. “This can lead to serious stiffness and a long-term increase in pain.” In fact, he notes that prolonged bed rest can amount to loss of about 1% of muscle strength each day. “The sooner you start moving or even engaging in light to moderate exercise, the faster you may improve overall,” the expert adds.
2. Get active! Maintenance of physical activity is essential to treating and/or preventing back pain. “At the most basic level, that means standing, walking and limiting sitting/lying down throughout the day,” he explains. “But if you want to take it to the next level and push your body, try incorporating aerobic activity like jump roping, jogging, dancing (Zumba) or even kickboxing.”Dr. Parikh also recommends incorporating strength training workouts to target the core and hips, such as fire hydrants, superman’s and planks. Many exercises can be found on free home exercise apps, such as 7 Minute Workout or Nike Training Club, along with the proper techniques.
3. Apply ice or heat therapy. According to Dr. Parikh, heat therapy tends to help relax muscle tissue and relieve back pain. “That being said, though, many patients need to take a personalized approach to heat or ice with respect to their pain complaints,” he shares.
4. Stretch. “This one is a bit tricky as stretching is extremely specific to each patient,” advises Dr. Parikh, “but if you were given specific stretches to do daily by your physical therapist or trainer, make sure that you are taking the time to do this.”
5. Be mindful of what you’re eating. Excess weight around the mid-section can be especially strenuous for your lower back. Some foods to avoid overly eating would include:
• Sugary drinks
• Processed snacks (potato chips) and baked goods
• High-fat dairy products (ice cream)
• Constant take-out from restaurants
• Fried food

While some foods to try to incorporate more often into your meals would include:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Beans and legumes
• Lean poultry and fish
• Healthy fats (coconut oil)

“To avoid overeating or over-snacking, try to plan ahead with healthy meals, set a schedule of when you are going to eat each day and limit giving in to cravings (though it’s okay to give in every now and then!),” Dr. Parikh explains.

6. Improve your posture. “This is a simple but very important way to keep the back and spine healthy,” shares Dr. Parikh. Some simple techniques include:

• Being mindful of sitting up straight when standing or sitting (and avoiding that slouch!)
• Keeping a pillow or rolled-up towel placed behind the lower back while sitting
• Keeping feet elevated on a low stool or a stack of books to relieve pressure from the back during prolonged periods of sitting
• Switching sitting positions often and periodically

When should I seek help for my lower back pain during the lockdown?

If your lower back pain becomes so ‘all-consuming’ that you cannot function, Dr. Parikh advises calling your doctor. Additionally, he advises seeking immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms along with your back pain:

• Weakness in your legs
• Incontinence (inability to control urination)
• Pain waking you from your sleep
• Fever
• Chills
• Numbness below the waistline

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our clinical contributor: Sagar Parikh, M.D.
• To make an appointment with Dr. Parikh or a doctor near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website. 

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.