STEM PROPOSAL: ‘Back posture & Back pain? Not with this back brace!’
What:
Amolika and I will be trying to create a solution to bad posture, resulting in back pain. We will be creating a back brace that can be worn under clothing or attached to a chair, in order to help put the back in the correct position, which will decrease back pain.
Why:
We have chosen to create this because our sisters suffer from bad posture and back pain as they have a high level of chair usage whilst studying. Amolika and I also are creating this, in order to try and best prevent us from developing this issue as well. This is why our project is highly important to us.
Target Audience:
Our target audience, is any person who has bad posture, resulting in back pain. There is no specific age group/gender that this solution will work for, it is literally for anyone who suffers from the conditions of bad posture and back pain. In order to make our inquiry easier, we will be targeting our inquiry more towards students, to see how studying affects bad posture and causes back pain, and therefore we can target our solution, to the direct issue.
Problem/issue addressing:
The issue we are addressing from our solution, is back pain and bad posture, in students and teens as we will inquire into how studying causes back pain. Along with designing a prototype, we will also be investigating into ways to prevent back pain whilst studying, and possibly better studying techniques.
Overview
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor or miss work, and it is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Most people have back pain at least once.
Fortunately, you can take measures to prevent or relieve most back-pain episodes. If prevention fails, simple home treatment and proper body mechanics often will heal your back within a few weeks and keep it functional. Surgery is rarely needed to treat back pain.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of back pain can include:
- Muscle ache
- Shooting or stabbing pain
- Pain that radiates down your leg
- Pain that worsens with bending, lifting, standing or walking
- Pain that improves with reclining
Causes
Back pain that comes on suddenly and lasts no more than six weeks (acute) can be caused by a fall or heavy lifting. Back pain that lasts more than three months (chronic) is less common than acute pain.
Back pain often develops without a cause that your doctor can identify with a test or an imaging study. Conditions commonly linked to back pain include:
- Muscle or ligament strain.Repeated heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement can strain back muscles and spinal ligaments. If you’re in poor physical condition, constant strain on your back can cause painful muscle spasms.
- Bulging or ruptured disks.Disks act as cushions between the bones (vertebrae) in your spine. The soft material inside a disk can bulge or rupture and press on a nerve. However, you can have a bulging or ruptured disk without back pain. Disk disease is often found incidentally when you have spine X-rays for some other reason.
- Osteoarthritis can affect the lower back. In some cases, arthritis in the spine can lead to a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord, a condition called spinal stenosis.
- Skeletal irregularities.A condition in which your spine curves to the side (scoliosis) also can lead to back pain, but generally not until middle age.
- Your spine’s vertebrae can develop compression fractures if your bones become porous and brittle.
Risk factors
Anyone can develop back pain, even children and teens. These factors might put you at greater risk of developing back pain:
- Back pain is more common as you get older, starting around age 30 or 40.
- Lack of exercise.Weak, unused muscles in your back and abdomen might lead to back pain.
- Excess weight.Excess body weight puts extra stress on your back.
- Some types of arthritis and cancer can contribute to back pain.
- Improper lifting.Using your back instead of your legs can lead to back pain.
- Psychological conditions.People prone to depression and anxiety appear to have a greater risk of back pain.
- This reduces blood flow to the lower spine, which can keep your body from delivering enough nutrients to the disks in your back. Smoking also slows healing.
- Prevention
You might avoid back pain or prevent its recurrence by improving your physical condition and learning and practicing proper body mechanics.
To keep your back healthy and strong:
- Regular low-impact aerobic activities — those that don’t strain or jolt your back — can increase strength and endurance in your back and allow your muscles to function better. Walking and swimming are good choices. Talk with your doctor about which activities you might try.
- Build muscle strength and flexibility.Abdominal and back muscle exercises, which strengthen your core, help condition these muscles so that they work together like a natural corset for your back. Flexibility in your hips and upper legs aligns your pelvic bones to improve how your back feels. Your doctor or physical therapist can tell you which exercises are right for you.
- Maintain a healthy weight.Being overweight strains back muscles. If you’re overweight, trimming down can prevent back pain.
- Quit smoking.Talk to your doctor about ways to quit.
Avoid movements that twist or strain your back. Use your body properly:
- Stand smart.Don’t slouch. Maintain a neutral pelvic position. If you must stand for long periods, place one foot on a low footstool to take some of the load off your lower back. Alternate feet. Good posture can reduce the stress on back muscles.
- Sit smart.Choose a seat with good lower back support, armrests and a swivel base. Placing a pillow or rolled towel in the small of your back can maintain its normal curve. Keep your knees and hips level. Change your position frequently, at least every half-hour.
- Lift smart.Avoid heavy lifting, if possible, but if you must lift something heavy, let your legs do the work. Keep your back straight — no twisting — and bend only at the knees. Hold the load close to your body. Find a lifting partner if the object is heavy or awkward.