Contents
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4
5
6
7
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10
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Summary
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How To Identify Your Back Pain
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Muscular Back Conditions
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Skeletal Back Conditions
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Nerve Back Conditions
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The Development of Back Pain Treatments
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Back Pain: A Serious Issue That
Requires Serious Treatment
Title of the book
Summary
A
ll kinds of bodily pain can cause issues for people, but back pain can be one of the most
debilitating pains someone can experience. The human back is one of the largest areas of
the body; it is the foundation from which people gain strength and the ability to do common motions that
are needed in daily life as well as athletic performance.
The “back” people commonly refer to is comprised of many different bones, muscles, nerves, and
ligaments that work together cohesively to provide support for the rest of the body. Dealing with back pain
requires an understanding of where the pain is coming from as well as knowledge of how to treat the pain.
This guide will help you learn about the most common causes of back pain and provide suggestions for
what to do so you can get the relief you need to help you live a more normal life.
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The Performance Athlete’s Guide to Back Pain Relief
How To Identify
Your Back Pain
B
ecause the back is such a large area, pain in your back can come about in many ways.
On a broad level, however, there are three main types of pain that can affect your back:
muscular issues, skeletal or bone issues, and nerve issues. It is important to understand that these
three kinds of back problems are different from one another, and, as a result, they require a different
approach to treatment. Upon analyzing the most common problems in each of these three areas, you
will gain better knowledge of how to relieve pain that stems from these conditions.
Three Main Types
of Back Pain:
– Muscular
– Skeletal
– Nerve
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The Performance Athlete’s Guide to Back Pain Relief
Muscular Back
Conditions
M
uscle aches and pains are very common for the person who uses their back muscles
frequently, but everyone uses the muscles in their back to some extent. The muscles around
your spine are used when you lean in a certain direction or bend over to pick something up. Some of the
muscles in your back are even used when you breathe; they help allow the ribcage to expand and
contract when you inhale and exhale. Athletes who perform throwing, grabbing, or twisting movements
use their back muscles especially often.
One of the most common issues for back
pain relating to the muscular system of the
back is a muscle strain or sprain, such as
when muscles get twisted, overextended, or
slightly torn. Some of the major muscles in
the back that are at risk for sprains or strains
include the latissimus dorsi and the
trapezius.
How can you tell if your back pain is a result
of a muscular condition? If you have noticed
that the pain began after a workout or
athletic competition, or if your pain is
centralized to one particular area and is
sensitive to the touch, it is likely that you are dealing with muscle pain in your back. These are all signs
that you have a muscular strain or sprain.
In milder cases, muscle strains can be treated using common home remedies: rest, massage therapy,
and in some cases, over-the-counter medicines that are made to help relieve pain.
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The Performance Athlete’s Guide to Back Pain Relief
Skeletal Back Conditions
M
ost of the problems athletes experience involving
skeletal issues can be tied to the spine or backbone.
Without a properly-functioning spine, people would not be able to
twist or bend their body. The spine also protects the bundle of
nerves that eventually branch out to the rest of your body, which is
known as the spinal cord. The spine is comprised of 33 vertebrae
with small pads called intervertebral discs. Many skeletal back
problems that cause pain are related to these vertebrae or the
discs that separate them.
The most common kind of spine problems experienced by athletes
results from abnormal spine curvatures, which can put pressure
on the vertebrae and cause pain in different parts of the body as
well as the back. Issues like scoliosis, kyphosis, and lordosis all
commonly define spinal back problems that relate to an
improperly-shaped spine.
Another very common skeletal ailment causing back pain for
athletes is a fracture or small crack in the vertebrae. A spinal
fracture is a serious injury that should be checked out by a sports
doctor or physician, especially if the fracture is severe enough to
Because skeletal conditions involving
have an impact on nerves of the spinal cord.
the back are serious, treating these
problems is best completed under the
If you are dealing with back pain related to the spine, the most
direction of a medical expert. In most
common symptom is a severe, sharp type of pain in a relatively
situations, a big component of treating
localized area. You will most likely experience more pain when
spine issues is stabilizing the affected
you try to move or engage in activities that involve the spine, such
area. This stability is what allows bone
as bending over or twisting to one side. If some of your nerves
structures to heal sufficiently.
have been damaged, you may also experience numbness or
Depending on the extent of your injury,
tingling feeling.
some physical therapy may be required.
In cases of serious spinal injury,
surgery might be needed.
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The Performance Athlete’s Guide To Muscle Recovery
Nerve Back Conditions
L
ike skeletal issues, problems relating to nerves in the back are mostly centered in the
spinal cord. The University of Washington says that the spinal cord is the main pathway
used by nerves that send information from other parts of the nervous system to the brain. Nerves are
what let the brain know that the body is experiencing pain and other sensations.
One common nerve issue with the human back
that can cause pain is what is known as a
slipped or protruded disc. This is a situation that
occurs when the spinal discs located between
the vertebrae become misaligned and end up
affecting a nerve of the spinal cord. Because of
how large and far-reaching the human nervous
system is, pain in the nerves can extend to
several other parts of the body.
For example, sciatica is a condition where the
sciatic nerve becomes irritated. According to
Spine-Health, the sciatic nerve is the biggest
nerve in the body. It starts out around the lower
spine area but eventually branches out all the
way down to the feet. If you have been
experiencing pain, numbness, or tingling in your
buttocks or legs and it does not seem to be tied
to one particular part of your back, it is very
possible that you are dealing with sciatica or
another nerve issue.
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The Performance Athlete’s Guide to Back Pain Relief
Nerve damage may be the most difficult type of back pain to treat. In some
instances, it is impossible to fully treat back pain that results because of nerve
damage, especially if the damage is quite severe. Fortunately, there are some
treatment techniques available for those suffering from nerve pain in their back.
WebMD reports that one of the most important things to think about with nerve
pain and nerve damage is the underlying cause of these problems. For example,
one of the most common reasons that you may experience pain as a result of
nerve issues is diabetes. Instead of directly addressing the nerve issue, diabetes
sufferers would be wise to address the core issues of diabetes, which relate to
blood sugar levels.
There are also certain prescription drugs that can cause nerve issues as a side
effect. Look into any of the drugs that you are taking to see if they have side
effects that may cause nerve problems. The cessation of these drugs may help
you reduce or eliminate back pain as a result of nerve problems. Proponents of
alternative medicine also use treatments like acupuncture and meditation. As is
the case with any serious back issue, it is extremely important that you consult
with a physician or back doctor so that you can get an exact diagnosis of the
problem and learn about some of the potential ways to treat it.
8
The Performance Athlete’s Guide to Back Pain Relief
The Development of
Back Pain Treatments
A
s technology has advanced, more and more healthcare institutions and physicians are
turning to sophisticated treatments to help relieve the back pain their patients are
dealing with. This is especially important when you consider that many of the most common drugs
prescribed for pain can have serious side effects. For example, the common painkiller oxycodone is
included on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s list of Schedule II controlled substances, which
includes substances that have a high potential for abuse and may cause severe physical or psychological
dependence.
What alternatives are available for treating back pain? Radiofrequency is one modern type of treatment; it
sends an electrical current produced by a radio wave through small areas of nerve tissue. A similar kind
of device that can be used for spinal cord issues is known as a spinal cord stimulator. A small device is
usually placed under the skin of the back, where it can easily emit electrical currents throughout the
nerves in the spinal column.
These modern treatments are great for nerve issues, but what if you are
dealing with muscle pain in your back? One of the best options available to
you is a muscle stimulator device like the Marc Pro Plus. With a similar
function as radiofrequency treatments or a spine stimulator device, the Marc
Pro Plus uses gentle waves of electricity to cause mild muscle contractions
that do not put any strain on the back. These contractions help promote the
muscle recovery process, where blood flows throughout the muscles to deliver
valuable nutrients used by muscle fibers and to get rid of waste that is
generated during recovery. The Marc Pro Plus also features multiple channels
and plenty of control so that you can get the exact intensity of treatment you
need. Marc Pro devices have been used by professional athletes in sports like
basketball, football, hockey, and baseball. Even those who compete in other
activities that are taxing on the body, such as dancing and weight lifting, will
find the Marc Pro Plus to be very valuable for helping to ease pain in the back.
9
The Performance Athlete’s Guide to Back Pain Relief
Back Pain: A Serious
Issue That Requires
Serious Treatment
W
hatever type of back pain you might be dealing with, it is important you come up with a
plan to address the pain as soon as possible. An unhealthy back can cause problems
for sports and physical activities, but it can also interfere with ordinary tasks like cleaning, getting
dressed, and sitting down. Be sure to explore all of the options are available to you so that you can get
the type of treatment your back needs to feel better and maximize your performance, whether you are a
pro athlete competing at a high level or simply want the flexibility and range of motion needed to have
fun playing with your children at home.
10
The Performance Athlete’s Guide to Back Pain Relief
Marc Pro®, Inc. is a privately held firm based
in Huntington Beach, CA. The founders have
over 30 years of experience researching,
designing, manufacturing and selling
electrical stimulation devices in the medical
field. All of that research was used to develop
the Marc Pro and Marc Pro Plus. We work with
some of the most elite organizations in the
country and have sold our devices to players
and trainers from over 100 professional and
amateur teams. We’ve patented our
technologies and processes, and we’ve
developed a reputation as having the most
unique and effective electrical stimulation
devices available. We designed and
manufacture the Marc Pro device ourselves,
right here in Huntington Beach California
where our corporate and manufacturing
headquarters reside. We are dedicated to
Marc Pro Headquarters
5702 Bolsa Ave.
Huntington Beach, CA
92649
www.marcpro.com
(855) MARC-PRO (627-2776)
helping athletes at all levels Do More, Recover
Faster, and Feel Better!
Performance Starts Here.
Unique technology. No complex programs. Real
results.