Treating Back Pain through Diet

Treating Back Pain through Diet
by Penny Little, mBANT, Pilates Instructor & Nutritional Therapist

As Pilates instructors we’re often dealing with clients in chronic pain – from muscular tension, spinal misalignments, shoulder, hip or knee problems. As a nutritional therapist I also try to educate my clients on the benefits of managing their chronic pain through diet and nutrition.

Pain is caused by inflammation – the collection of inflammatory chemicals to a site of injury or trauma in the body. Initially, when the injury occurs, the inflammation is necessary in order to protect the injured tissues. But longer term inflammation can be damaging – not to mention uncomfortable and distressing – and people often rely on painkillers to get through the day or to help them sleep.

Unfortunately taking painkillers – either steroidal or non-steroidal – can have side effects long term, such as gastrointestinal damage, skin rashes and photosensitivity. Steroids taken long term can increase the risk of osteoporosis. The good news is that inflammation can be directly influenced by our diet. Certain foods are pro-inflammatory (increase the inflammatory response) whilst others are anti-inflammatory. The general rule of thumb is that wholegrains, pulses, fruits and vegetables are the good guys whereas animal fats, dairy and sugar are not so good and are more likely to increase inflammation. There are other specific foods, such as oily fish, nuts and seeds, pineapples, green tea, onions and spices such as turmeric which have been shown to lower inflammation. The anti-oxidants found in different coloured fruits and vegetables also work on reducing pain.

As a nutritional therapist I have worked with arthritis, disc injuries, tendonitis and long term back pain, combining Pilates exercises with dietary intervention and targeted supplementation. This combined approach is very effective and gives the client more control over their condition.  When treating with diet, it’s important to assess gut function so we know that the client will be absorbing these important nutrients effectively. Irritable Bowel Syndrome, constipation and bloating are all signs of a less-than perfect gut.

A trained nutritional therapist will take a full case history to assess all areas of health – and any medication the client is taking – before advising on a nutritional protocol. There are specially formulated nutritional supplements that can help manage inflammation and support cartilage and connective tissue, however these should be recommended by a trained practitioner.

If you wish to refer a client to a nutritional therapist in your area you can find a practitioner on the website www.bant.og.uk (British Association for Applied Nutrition  and Nutritional Therapy).

Penny Little runs Pilates classes and nutrition clinics in Reigate, Surrey and Brighton & Hove. For further information visit www.corenutrition.co.uk, www.corepilates.co.uk, or contact Penny on 07904 472605.