It was recently estimated that in the United Kingdom more working days are lost each year through back problems than through any other physical ailment. Around 90% of the population experience back pain at some point in their lives, and a huge proportion of working adults suffer some form of back pain every year.

Back pain can be experienced in muscles, nerves, bones, joints, tendons and ligaments, and can even be caused by problems originating in another area. For example, the muscles of the front and side of the neck can generate pain between the shoulder blades which is usually felt as a continual, dull, ache. Other examples of referred pain can be headaches, jaw pain, sinus pain or even earache, and these can all be caused by problems with your back.

Self-inflicted problem
Although some things are outside our control such as genetics and accidents, a large proportion of back pain is related to our lifestyle and the way that we interact with the world. Due to the bad habits that we have gradually developed over time, we have adopted a poor posture with a tendency to slump when we sit which then creates tension in the neck, shoulders and back.

We are spending more time sat in front of the PC and we are tending to drive everywhere instead of walking making us more vunerable to aches and pains in our backs .

Take a look at the position of your PC monitor - if its too high or too low we are forced to alter our body posture putting strain on the neck and shoulder muscles causing them to become tired and sore. Lots of toxins built up , namely lactic acid and its this build up that causes some of the pain and soreness even headaches It makes you wonder whether our ancestors suffered with bad backs!!

If you are suffering from any stress or emotional upheaval this can be reflected in our backs too. This may mean we are unable to get a good nights sleep and without good sleep where we are waking refreshed ready for the day ahead we continue to experience pain and irritation leading to more feelings of stress so the back pain continues.

You have to break this cycle.............

Help is at hand
Aromatherapy is highly effective remedy for easing back pain and reducing stress levels when using a regime of massage and bath soaks. Massage is excellent for relieving tight and tense muscles, and by including the correct essential oils it can bring instant relief to the tension knots and muscle spasms associated with neck and shoulder pain.
Some aromatherapy carrier oils have properties that are really great for muscular aches; for example sweet almond oil with added essential oils of Roman chamomile, sweet marjoram, lavender and rosemary will bring  relief to those stiff and aching muscles and joints. The oils penetrate into muscular tissue increasing blood flow to the area, and encouraging the contracted muscles to expand and relax.

A soothing warm bath with essential oils is also just the thing to relax tight, tense muscles in the shoulders and upper back. Roman chamomile, black pepper, clary sage, lavender, rose, sandalwood, sweet marjoram, sweet thyme, rosemary and vetiver are all oils that can be used to ease muscular aches and pains.

Preventative action
To help prevent neck and shoulder pain developing, try doing these simple stretching exercises. Following these simple and easy to understand exercises can be a productive way to prevent the tension in the neck and shoulder that lead to pain. Remember, headaches are a common side effect of sore all tight muscles of the upper back and neck too, and gentle stretching will help to relax muscular tension.

Here are a few easy exercises to get you started:

• Shoulder rolls
Roll your shoulders forward (clockwise) and backwards (anticlockwise) in slow circular movements.

• Shoulder shrug
Lift shoulders upwards towards the head hold for a few seconds and let go to release tension. Slowly tilt your head to the right shoulder, hold for a couple of seconds and then returned to upright position. Then repeat the exercise tilting toward the left shoulder.

• Head circles
Looking straight ahead slowly form a circle with your head in a clockwise direction for three or four complete circles. Then repeat in an anti-clockwise direction.

• Head Tilt
Slowly tilt your right ear towards the right shoulder, hold for a couple of seconds and then return your head to the upright position. Then repeat the exercise on the left side.


Using aromatherapy massage together with a few simple exercises really can help relieve or prevent neck and shoulder pain. But if your neck or shoulder pain persist beyond a few weeks you must go and see your doctor in case there is a serious underlying problem.