Stiffness in the Back: Why Are My Joints So Stiff?

Many people suffer from stiffness in the back and stiff joints. Many have probably asked themselves the questions; "Why does it feel like I'm getting stiffer and stiffer?" or "What causes this back stiffness?" Stiffer joints and back stiffness can be due to a number of reasons that we will go through in this article.

Age: You get older

We should be brutally honest here - and then we go straight to age. This is because as we age, cartilage (the soft hard mass that protects the bones) becomes more dehydrated and stiffer. The body also produces less synovial fluid - which is the fluid that helps to nourish joints and ensure that they function normally. The result is natural enough that the joints do not move as well as they did before - and that you thus need to have extra focus on joint treatment and training if you want to keep the "wheels in motion" in the best possible way. When we move and move the joints, joint fluid will be stimulated towards the moved areas and contribute to more correct movement.

Why is the back extra stiff in the morning?

Again, this is due to synovial synovial fluid - or lack thereof. When you sleep and lie still for several hours, a lack of movement will mean that this fluid will not be able to enter the joints that need a little extra oil. To reduce joint stiffness in the morning, you are advised to move more in everyday life, exercise actively and seek clinical treatment if needed.

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Wear and tear in the joints

A joint is an area where two bones meet. Each end of these legs is covered in cartilage so that these ends do not rub against each other. In case of joint wear (osteoarthritis), this cartilage can be reduced and thus lead to bone irritation - which can result in stiff and painful joints.

Rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis

Your immune system is really only going to attack external invasion forces - but sometimes it attacks itself. Rheumatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and breaks down joints; which causes almost constant pain and stiffness. Due to the fact that the immune system is most active when we sleep, it is the case that those with rheumatoid arthritis are often very stiff in the morning before they get "gone".

Stiffer in the back when changing weather?

Heard that many people get back pain and stiffen when the weather gets worse? Or that someone says they can feel it on their joints when a storm comes? It is thought that this is due to changes in the barometric pressure (air pressure) that often occur when aries change for the worse.

Want less stiff joints? Exercise regularly!

Regular training: Research has shown that the most important thing you do is exercise regularly. Exercising regularly increases blood circulation to muscles, tendons and not least; the joints. This increased circulation takes nutrients into the exposed discs and helps keep them healthy. Go for a walk, practice yoga, exercise in a hot water pool - do what you like, because the most important thing is that you do it regularly and not just in the "skipper's roof". If you have reduced everyday function, it is recommended that exercise is combined with muscle and joint treatment to make everyday life easier.

If you are unsure of what kind of training this entails or if you need an exercise program - then you are advised to contact physical therapist or modern chiropractor for setting up a training program customized for you.

Special training with exercise bands can be particularly effective in building stability from the bottom up, especially the hip, seat and lower back - due to the fact that the resistance then comes from different angles that we are almost never exposed to - then preferably in combination with regular back training. Below you see an exercise that is used for hip and back problems (called MONSTERGANGE). You will also find many more exercises under our main article: training (see the top menu or use the search box).