Back pain has become an epidemic problem in modern society. Statistics show that 80 percent of people in modernized countries will have back pain sometime in their lives. According to Bob Anderson, author of "Stretching," "Most back problems are simply due to tension and muscular tightness, which come from poor posture, being overweight, inactivity and lack of abdominal strength." There are a lot of ways back pain can occur and even more ways to treat it, but how often do you hear about ways to prevent it?

Most experts agree that inactivity combined with prolonged sitting can lead to back pain. So it makes sense that gentle exercise would be a great preventive measure in back care. For instance, "active sitting" on a FitBallŪ can lead to more movement while sitting because your body must make constant small adjustments to keep you balanced on the ball. These small adjustments help circulation to the disks in your spine and can strengthen your back muscles. Also, gentle bouncing on the ball will encourage you to sit with the correct posture and help strengthen your postural muscles.

There is a full range of exercise programs for people with back pain. Check with your local health care professional or, because some health clubs are tailoring exercise classes for back care, your local gym. (Always check with your doctor, therapist or chiropractor before starting any exercise program.)