As the standard constantly increases in injury awareness and prevention, back pain, whether acute or chronic, is becoming less a simple fact of life and more of a preventable problem. The following analyses of the kinds of back injuries and their causes and prevention should help immensely in the effort to remain upright for a much longer time.
At the gym, especially if one isn’t familiar with the basic mechanics of the spine and how certain stressors will damage it, it is imperative that the following information is taken seriously. The most popular site for back injury or pain to occur is at the lower back, around the 5th lumbar and 1st sacral vertebrae. Mechanically speaking, the concept is simple: as most loads are lifted with the hands, improper lifting will create a sizeable torque that travels down the spine, increasing as a function of distance. If the spine is strong enough, or if the lift is properly executed to avoid these forces, injury should not occur. In the event that it does occur, however, there are a number of things that can happen.
Muscle strains are very common, but very preventable back injuries that have affected hundreds of thousands of active people worldwide for years. These strains are caused by an overexertion of the muscles of the lower back, as when one is trying to lift too much, causing a strain or possible tear of the lower trapezius, rhomboids, rectus abdominus, or others. This injury manifests itself through pain, discomfort, and even spasms.
Less fortunate individuals may actually crack, loosen, or irritate their discs as a result of lifting large loads with improper technique at the gym. This is especially common with squatting, as the weight is concentrated near the top of the spine, acting as a compressor for anything that is not correctly lined up. This particular mechanism of injury, in which an impact or strain to the top of the spine could travel downward and have detrimental effects, is known as axial loading.
The preceding problems are almost always the result of overexertion, poor form, chronic overuse, or a combination. That isn’t to say that back injuries don’t happen within the safe practice of lifting, but it certainly occurs much less frequently. In the gym, people tend to neglect resistance-free exercise in the sense that they do not assess any risk of injury before these exercises. Often, these are abdominal exercises. This is a gross underestimation of what hyperextension and hyperflexion, both common with abdominal exercises, can do to the back. As detailed before, overloading and overexerting is also detrimental to the back. A safe preventive measure in that case is dropping down in weight if a certain amount can’t be lifted with one solid attempt. 
As with virtually every other health problem, back pain prevention is the ideal cure for back injuries. Active people who put their bodies to the test need to ensure that they have strong core muscles, like the rectus abdominis, to help stabilize the spine. Strengthening abdominal muscles doesn’t require a lot of resistance; it’s as simple as a fast-paced abdominal workout involving crunches, twists, and bends. As far as equipment is concerned, the most important item for a lifter is the squatting belt. This ensures that proper form is practiced throughout the lift.
Bending at the knees is always better than bending at the back. Outside of the gym, good posture is a must for anyone who wants to avoid back pain and injury. Essentially, the stronger the nearby support muscles are, the better equipped the spine is against stress. The Dynaspine Back Rest helps accomplish this. Thanks to the 2 back support plates on Dynaspine, the back muscles are kept active rather than holding them in a static position. This helps to build the strength of the muscles and in turn keeps them strong so they can support the spine well. Dynaspine also promotes a healthy posture to reduce fatigue, strain and stress in the spinal joints and discs.