As they get older, many people experience more and more back pain. The list of people with back problems is endless. If you often have back pain, it is very annoying and disruptive to everything you do. Bending, standing, walking and working: none of this is possible without the help of your back. You have a big problem if you suffer from back pain every day. However, some back pain is the result of a hereditary disorder and can be treated, but not cured. However, it is important that the cause is found. For example, this may be due to weak connective tissue, which means that the vertebrae do not remain stable.

Causes of back pain

Back pain often arises from years of heavy work and people have a worn out back around the age of 50. Lifting heavy loads incorrectly can even cause a hernia, which can cause a lot of pain and even require surgery.

Sedentary work or incorrect posture

On the other hand, back pain can also be caused by too much sedentary work in the wrong posture. In addition, it is more due to the muscles around the vertebrae, which have to keep the back in balance and have a problem with this. More exercise is then necessary.

Weak connective tissue and back pain

However, not everyone will benefit from the above remedy. Those who have weak connective tissue usually have it throughout the body. The condition is hereditary and cannot be cured. The patient has to learn to live with it. Anyone who has weak connective tissue can have problems with all joints. This is because normally the connective tissue, together with the muscles, ensures that bones and joints remain in the correct position relative to each other. Without that support our bodies would collapse.

The vertebrae have little support from the weak connective tissue

If the connective tissue is not strong, but weak, the muscles have more work to keep the joints in the right position. The connective tissue around the vertebrae is also too weak to keep the vertebrae in the right position. Normally, the connective tissue, in collaboration with the back muscles, keeps the spine in balance. However, if you have weak connective tissue, all joints can spread further than is the case with other people.

The former “snake people”

People who used to be known in circuses as contortionists had such a body with weak connective tissue. They could bend over backwards without feeling any pain or being bothered in the slightest. This usually went well for years, but over time these people also experienced more pain in their joints because they had overstretched them for years.

Stretchy ligaments and tendons due to weak connective tissue

The defect also has a name: the hypermobility syndrome. The ligaments and tendons are much more elastic than normal and provide less strength to the bone system and especially to the joints. The vertebrae also suffer. Because of this extra mobility, they can also move more easily relative to each other than would normally be the case.

Children and young people are often not bothered by it

Children and young people can sometimes benefit from this. They are more agile than other peers, are faster and more flexible when running and playing ball and are therefore often very popular during gymnastics classes. However, as they get older, they can have problems with their over-mobility, including their back. After all, the back muscles do provide counter pressure, but they therefore have extra work to do, which also causes them to tire more quickly than normal.

Adults are more likely to suffer from displaced vertebrae

Adult people with weak connective tissue often experience a tired, painful back more quickly, even before they actually develop problems with the vertebrae. When doing the same work, they get tired more quickly than their colleagues and are more likely to drop out. Moreover, the muscles are often unable to prevent a vertebra from dancing out of alignment here or there over time.

Still going to the doctor

If that is the case, then going to a doctor is a wise step. There is no need for surgery, because this problem cannot be treated surgically, but it does need to be investigated. Only then can possible measures be taken. The diagnosis is often made after taking photos or an MRI.

Physiotherapy can help

A crooked vertebra can be maneuvered back into alignment by a good physiotherapist or a good osteopath, but that is no guarantee that the vertebra will remain there. Once a crooked vertebra has been helped, the defect can return.

Not everyone suffers from the same joints

Many people suffer from weak ankles and their feet are more likely to sprain than others. There are also people with weak connective tissue around the cervical vertebrae and shoulders. They can even get migraines as a result. The medical world often does not discover the cause of migraines, because the problem of weak connective tissue is still too often not recognized.

Be careful when lifting

Like patients with hernias, adults with hypermobility syndrome must be careful with heavy lifting. With such a force on the back, the reset vertebra can easily slide to the side again. All patients with hypermobility syndrome must find a good mix of exercise and rest. Anyone who is afraid of getting pain and wants to avoid all problems will eventually become increasingly stiff.

Keeping moving is necessary

Continuing to exercise is necessary, but not beyond the pain threshold. If you know that you can walk for an hour and a half without too many problems, do so regularly. If it takes fifteen minutes longer, that is not really a problem. However, transferring is also not good. Take a rest period after each significant period of exercise.

The syndrome is difficult to explain

The pain and problems that someone with hypermobility syndrome has is almost impossible to explain to others. They see that the patient can do everything and does everything, but quickly complains of fatigue and pain. If you are a patient, don’t be annoyed by this, but don’t let yourself be pushed to walk longer or work harder than you can handle. After all, you know best where your pain threshold lies.

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