"The spine is designed for movement. If it were meant simply to bear static loads, it would be a broomstick rather than a complex structure with numerous joints," said Prof. Robert Gasik of Poland's National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation.
Gasik said at a media event in Warsaw on Friday that preventing back pain requires attention to everyday habits, including how people sit at work or school, the suitability of their chairs and desks, and the frequency of short breaks.
Friday marked World Spine Day, observed annually on October 16, and the Warsaw event brought together specialists who emphasized that movement is essential to spinal health.
Gasik recommended regular exercises to improve posture and measures to prevent osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones and can cause serious spinal problems.
Physiotherapist Agata Goldman-Madaj said even a short walk during a work break can benefit the spine.
Simple movements such as raising the arms overhead, gently twisting the torso while seated or looking toward the ceiling can also help.
"Our spine gets its nourishment through movement. Simply raising our arms straightens the thoracic section of the spine," she said.
Olympic sailing champion Mateusz Kusznierewicz stressed the value of daily prevention, including changing sitting positions, strengthening the deep muscles that support the spine and choosing a suitable mattress and pillow.
The experts also cautioned against assuming that persistent back pain requires surgery.
Neurosurgeon Karol Wiśniewski of the Medical University of Łódź in central Poland said that up to 90 percent of patients with spinal pain may recover through appropriately prescribed rehabilitation, without an operation.
Surgery is generally considered when conservative treatment fails or when neurological complications require urgent intervention, he said.
Wiśniewski warned that patients sometimes arrive at consultations with magnetic resonance imaging results and have already concluded that surgery is their best option.
"Some even try to put pressure on doctors. But we should not give in to that pressure, because one spinal operation carries the risk of further operations in the future," he said.
He emphasized that doctors must first rule out serious conditions, including fractures, infections and cancer, before prescribing rehabilitation.
Gasik said that back pain lasting more than three weeks requires a careful assessment of its underlying cause.
"It is impossible to treat patients effectively unless we approach them individually from the outset," he said.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP, tvp.pl