Stress and Chronic Low Back Pain

Meet Maame Amina, our queen of foos (second-hand clothes).

Now, running her stall at Makola Market is no joke—there’s always a customer arguing for a lower price, more foos bundles arriving than expected, and the constant worry of making a profit.

But what Maame Amina didn’t expect was that all this stress would end up right in her lower back! 😩

Maame Amina thought her back pain came from lifting too many foos bales.

But after some time, she realized something odd: her back hurt the most when her mind was racing and her stress levels were sky-high.

That’s when Maame Amina learned the hard truth: stress and back pain are best friends.

And you can’t manage one without managing the other!

So, what’s the connection between stress and low back pain? Here’s what Maame Amina discovered:

1. Stress Tenses Muscles – And Your Back Feels It First

• The Problem: When you're stressed, your muscles tighten—especially the ones in your neck, shoulders, and lower back.
• It’s like your body is on high alert, ready for a fight. But when those muscles stay tight for too long, you’re left with pain.
• Studies show that psychological stress increases muscle tension, contributing to chronic low back pain in 35% of cases. (Journal of Pain Research)

2. Stress Changes How You Perceive Pain

• The Problem: When you’re stressed, your brain amplifies pain signals.
• What might normally be a slight discomfort becomes unbearable because stress makes you more sensitive to pain.
• Research shows that stress increases pain perception by 20-30%, making minor back issues feel like major problems. (NIH Study on Pain Perception)

3. Stress Affects Sleep

• The Problem: Stress often leads to poor sleep, and lack of sleep makes it harder for your body to heal and recover from daily strains.
• It’s a vicious cycle: stress keeps you awake, and sleep deprivation makes back pain worse.
• 40% of people with chronic low back pain also report poor sleep due to stress. (Sleep Foundation Research)

4. Stress Messes with Your Posture

• The Problem: When you’re stressed, your body language often reflects it.
• You hunch over, slouch, and hold yourself in tense, uncomfortable positions.
• This poor posture puts extra pressure on your spine.
• Poor posture caused by stress can increase back pain by 30%. (Spine Health Journal)

Are you like Maame Amina, where your back pain seems to get worse the more stressed you are?

Share your stress management techniques and how they’ve affected your back pain!

Whether it’s deep breathing, stretching, or a good laugh, let’s help each other manage stress and keep that back pain at bay. 😅💪

Need more help managing your back pain?

Book a free consultation with me today, and let’s work on both your stress and back pain. Don’t forget to subscribe to Health Pulse for more health tips, and connect with me for updates on physiotherapy and wellness.

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