" first part
Edited by Dr. Enrico Paoletti
Obesity is strongly regarded as a frequent comorbidity among patients with back pain; obese patients present in poorer health than people of normal weight.
The incorrect alignment of the back, typical of the obese person, leads to an "excessive compression on the bone structures, especially when the subject has to bear the entire weight of his body, or in the standing or sitting position (this can lead to a painful symptomatology in a gradual or acute way, and often permanent over time), and an "excessive tension on muscles and ligaments both during support (static) and during movement.
It is also true, however, that a "too fast slimming activity, which leads the obese person to lose in a short time a" high percentage of fat mass, as well as in women after gestation, can cause the "establishment or" accentuation (if it already exists) of considerable pain in the lumbar area (both in obese and pregnant women, in fact, there is atrophy and asthenia of the abdominal muscles) since, in this period, the containing, that is the muscle bundles, cannot followed by the sudden decrease of the content (adipose tissue located in the abdominal area); to ensure that the bundles do not collapse, the antigravity muscles therefore intervene, above all the paravertebral musculature is constantly activated which, contracting practically always, undergoes fatigue resulting in muscle strain and therefore pain.
In conclusion, there is a documented relationship between lower back pain and obesity, and there seems to be certainty on the improvement of the low spine problem in people who have decreased their weight load.; in general, however, it is not enough to lose weight through diet alone and / or through "aerobic activity aimed at depleting fat deposits, but it is necessary that this is associated and supported by a" preventive and compensatory activity (programmed in intensity, volume and succession by a specialist in the sector), which provides for a constant strengthening of the abdominal muscles, a lengthening of the muscle chains initially evaluated retracted, a "postural activity to promote muscle rebalancing, a discharge at the lumbar level to loosen muscle tendon tensions and a proprioceptive activity, and perceptive sense, directed towards the correct restructuring of the body scheme ... "it is important to work globally", trying not to underestimate the problem of lower back pain, aware of the fact that without a targeted activity and with only the loss of fat mass it is difficult to obtain lasting improvements in this regard.
Bibliography:
Bosello O., Cuzzolaro M., 2006, "Obesity and overweight ", il Mulino, Bologna.
Kendall F.P., 2002, "Muscles functions and tests ", Verduci editore, Rome.
North American Spine Society, 2005.
Rotella M.C., Ricca V. and Mannucci E., 1997, "The" obesity ", S.e.e., Florence.
Tribastore F., Tribastone P., "Preventive and compensatory motor education", Sports Press Society, Rome.
