When people think of back pain, they don’t automatically associate it with stress or mental burnout. Studies have shown that recurring thoughts of negativity and bouts of anxiety enhance one’s chances of suffering from back pain and injuries. There is a wide range of techniques available to help with reducing the amount of stress and anxiety that can contribute to this kind of pain. Many involve acupuncture techniques that are psychological in nature. Instead of using needles on the body the therapist will use the fingers to tap certain parts of the body, and using psychological techniques, “link” that pressure with a certain thought or emotion. There has been an ongoing debate about the effectiveness of such techniques, but solid research has returned favorable results. The link between the mind and the body can never be underestimated. The daily grind many people are under such as trying to juggle work and home life responsibilities can create a significant amount of stress. Occasionally seeking treatment from a qualified counselor or therapist is necessary to find the root of the problem.

It is important to learn to manage stress and anxiety in the mind, but it is also crucial to learn to physically relax your total body to ensure that the muscles and joints operate in perfect harmony together. Learning how to relax your muscles will do wonders for your back pain. The following muscle relaxation technique is best thought of as meditation for the muscles:

• First sit or lie down in a calm, quiet place where you will not be disturbed. Turn off any distractions in the environment. It is often helpful to play relaxing music softly in the background as well.
• Then take five minutes to get into the proper relaxing mind set. Strive for a tranquil feeling of peace in yourself and let go of anything in the world that is worrying you.
• Begin with the muscles in your feet. Clench the muscles tightly for a period of three to five seconds and then relax completely. Then move up to the muscles in the legs. Slowly work your way up the body clenching then relaxing each muscle group.