The Truth About Back Pain
Dr. Silveri Offers the Facts Up-Front

Myths abound regarding back pain. Here, Christopher Silveri, MD, Medical Director of Inova Spine Institute at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, debunks a few of them:

Myth: Exercise is bad for back pain.
Fact: Regular exercise helps prevent back pain. Core strengthening exercises and Pilates, and flexibility exercises may
improve low back and chronic pain.

	Christopher Silveri, MD Join Christopher Silveri, MD, Medical Director, Inova Spine Institute at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, for a lecture, “Non-Surgical and Surgical Options for Treating Neck and Back Pain.” It will be held July 23 from 6–8 p.m. at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Auditorium, Building 3700. To register, call 1-855-My-Inova (1-855-694-6682) or click here.

Myth: Bed rest is the best solution for back pain.
Fact: Resting can help an acute injury or strain causing back pain, but prolonged bed rest, more than
a day or two in bed, can make
back pain worse.

Myth: Lifting heavy objects is bad
for your back.
Fact: It’s not necessarily how
much you lift; it’s how you lift the
object. When you lift, squat close
to the object with your back
straight and head up. Do not twist
or bend your body while lifting or
you may hurt your back.

Myth: Injury causes back pain.
Fact: Disc degeneration, injuries, diseases, infections and even inherited conditions can cause back pain.

Myth: Firmer mattresses are better.
Fact: Depending on their sleep habits and the cause of their back pain, different people need different mattresses.