Back pains and aches can be a huge hindrance to one’s day-to-day routine. Moreover, unlike other pains and conditions that often have a targeted, single cause, there are many factors that could lead to upper or lower back pain. Some of these include things like age, leading a sedentary lifestyle, improper lifting due to the wrong posture, or even underlying medical conditions.
Thankfully, there are measures to prevent and alleviate back pain, for example, pain relief remedies from Tiger Balm, or even exercise. In this blog, we discuss more about back pains and how you can alleviate them, so you can get back to work and/or doing the things you love.
Symptoms of Back Pains and Aches
When you experience back pains, the symptoms may range from mild muscle pain to shooting or burning sensations that might be simply unbearable. Furthermore, when the pain becomes too intense, it may also lead to leg pain or aches in other parts of the body. The pain might even worsen when you bend, lift, or twist your body, or when daily, mundane tasks like standing up or walking.
Typically, you can have back aches and pains treated at home with pain relief medication or ointments. However, when it persists and it disrupts your quality of life, you should see a medical professional for advice and treatment.
Common Causes of Back Pains and Aches
1. Straining your back
Back pains and aches commonly occur when you lift something incorrectly, lift something very heavy, or perform an abrupt movement. This can cause strain on your muscles and ligaments, resulting in muscle spasms or tension, and in some cases even damage discs and result in major injuries.
Make sure that when you’re lifting anything, especially heavy objects, you use proper body posture, so you don’t strain your back. At the same time, when doing any strenuous activity like an intense workout, stretch your muscles before and after to prevent tension and strain.
2. Pre-existing injuries or conditions
Medical conditions such as arthritis or ruptured discs can also be the cause of back pain. Should this be the case, make sure to consult your physician for an assessment first, so they can give you the proper treatment.
And if you want to supplement the treatment given with a topical herbal remedy, you can also consider Tiger Balm’s pain relief products to soothe the area you’re experiencing muscle pain.
3. Movement or improper posture
Some everyday activities could be the cause of your back pains and aches. This includes sitting or standing for long periods as it could add a lot of pressure to your back muscles and spinal discs, resulting in an aching back. At the same time, improper posture whether in sitting or standing can strain your back muscles, reducing blood supply and leading to stiffness in the lower back.
When your work requires you to sit or stand for long periods, it’s recommended that you take short breaks to walk or stretch, so you can prevent adding tension to your back muscles. For workouts, always make sure that you execute the proper form or movement, so you don’t strain your back.
Remedies for Back Pains and Aches
1. Hot or cold compress
One common pain relief remedy is to heat and ice the area where you are experiencing the pain. Applying a cold compress to your back can help reduce swelling and alleviate the pain. You can also put an ice pack on the injured area, but be sure to put a thin towel under it to protect your skin.
A heating pad or warm pack can also help relax your muscles and increase the blood flow to the affected area. However, avoid sleeping while you have on the hot compress to avoid burns.
2. Get a massage
A massage can also be a way to relieve your upper or lower back pain. Massage therapy can help improve blood circulation on your back, which then lessens the tension in your muscles and alleviates aches or soreness.
3. Improve posture
Some exercises can help you improve your posture. Popular ones include Yoga, Aerobic exercises, and Tai Chi. Also, make it a habit to be conscious of your posture when you sit, walk or stand. Avoid taking on repetitive postures like sitting hunched over for long periods of time, which can add tension to your back and result in muscle soreness.
4. Use topical pain relief
Topical pain relief products called topical analgesics, can help soothe the area of your back where you feel the most pain. Tiger Balm has a range of ointments, rubs, and patches that can help alleviate your back pain and give you comfort. Here are some of our products that could benefit you:
Tiger Balm Ultra Strength
If you’re looking for a topical remedy that provides warmth to your muscles, the Tiger Balm Ultra Strength just might be what you need. It has the strongest concentration of our signature herbal ingredients that will offer more comfort and relief to back muscle pain and stiffness caused by overexertion. Its active ingredients include camphor and menthol, which are commonly known for their pain relieving properties.
Tiger Balm Pain Relieving Patch
When you need something easy to apply for minor back aches or pains, consider the Tiger Balm Relieving Patch. Our medicated pain relieving patches aren’t messy and contour to your body for optimal comfort and pain relief. The patches have the usual active ingredients of camphor and menthol but have an added element – capsicum extract. Capsicum extract is known to help with soothing pain by blocking the pain messages being sent to your nerves.
Tiger Balm Active Muscle Pain Reliever Spray
For back pains in hard-to-reach areas, you can use the Tiger Balm Active Muscle Pain Reliever Spray. It alleviates pain such as those caused by strenuous athletic training. The formula isn’t greasy, and getting your clothes stained will not be an issue. Our pain reliever spray also has the active ingredient of menthol and camphor, but it’s combined with methyl salicylate, which is an external analgesic used as temporary relief for minor body aches and muscle and joint pain.
Alleviate Body Pains and Aches with Tiger Balm
When it comes to effective pain relief, Tiger Balm has become a trusted product in many households for years. With a combination of age-old traditional medicine and modern innovation, we continue to produce remedies that help soothe body pains and aches while also providing comfort.
Do you want to know where you can get any of our products? Go through our store locator and purchase your own Tiger Balm ointment, spray, or rub today!