Is it possible that stress is contributing to Galinari's back problems? I say yes, he's stressed out about playing against the bigger faster NBA and it's manifesting in his back. This guy has got to get over it. How many doctors have to tell him there is nothing physically wrong with him?

The Stress / Back Pain Connection

There is a strong connection between stress and back pain. Stress causes a release of stress hormones. Stress hormones increase the perception of pain.
Stress hormones also cause the muscles to tighten up. The muscles may tense up so much they go into painful spasms. Back and neck muscles are particularly sensitive to the effects of stress.

Muscle tension reduces blood flow to the tissues (reduced oxygen and nutrients to the tissues). Reduced blood flow delays healing. Adequate circulation is also necessary to flush acidic waste products (byproducts of muscular activity) from the tissues. A build up of acidic waste products in the tissues can cause fatigue and pain.

Stress in itself can cause back pain. A person with a 'bad back', e.g. a person who has scar tissue from an old injury or degenerative changes in the spine due to aging, may notice the effects of stress triggering back pain even more than someone with a healthy back. The slightest muscle tension may be 'the straw the broke the camel's back.' For instance, if spinal nerves are already restricted by scar tissue or calcium deposits it may take minimal muscle tension to compress nerves and cause pain. Sciatica may flare up when one is feeling stressed.

Tense back muscles increase back pain and pain increases tensing of muscles - a vicious cycle of stress and back pain can be created.

The back is less capable of tolerating even mild abuse (lifting something slightly heavy, poor posture, a sudden twist, sitting too long, etc) when a person is under stress. Stress causes the muscles to tighten up, leaving them vulnerable to injury.

Reducing Stress

Relieving stress can reduce pain that is aggravated or caused by tense muscles. Managing stress on an ongoing basis may also help prevent back pain from occurring in the first place.

Is that from Dr. Sarno's book?

Posted by Rookie:

Is it possible that stress is contributing to Galinari's back problems? I say yes, he's stressed out about playing against the bigger faster NBA and it's manifesting in his back. This guy has got to get over it. How many doctors have to tell him there is nothing physically wrong with him?

The Stress / Back Pain Connection

There is a strong connection between stress and back pain. Stress causes a release of stress hormones. Stress hormones increase the perception of pain.
Stress hormones also cause the muscles to tighten up. The muscles may tense up so much they go into painful spasms. Back and neck muscles are particularly sensitive to the effects of stress.

Muscle tension reduces blood flow to the tissues (reduced oxygen and nutrients to the tissues). Reduced blood flow delays healing. Adequate circulation is also necessary to flush acidic waste products (byproducts of muscular activity) from the tissues. A build up of acidic waste products in the tissues can cause fatigue and pain.

Stress in itself can cause back pain. A person with a 'bad back', e.g. a person who has scar tissue from an old injury or degenerative changes in the spine due to aging, may notice the effects of stress triggering back pain even more than someone with a healthy back. The slightest muscle tension may be 'the straw the broke the camel's back.' For instance, if spinal nerves are already restricted by scar tissue or calcium deposits it may take minimal muscle tension to compress nerves and cause pain. Sciatica may flare up when one is feeling stressed.

Tense back muscles increase back pain and pain increases tensing of muscles - a vicious cycle of stress and back pain can be created.

The back is less capable of tolerating even mild abuse (lifting something slightly heavy, poor posture, a sudden twist, sitting too long, etc) when a person is under stress. Stress causes the muscles to tighten up, leaving them vulnerable to injury.

Reducing Stress

Relieving stress can reduce pain that is aggravated or caused by tense muscles. Managing stress on an ongoing basis may also help prevent back pain from occurring in the first place.

Put him on a low dosage of Ativan for 6-8 weeks.

Posted by VDesai:

Is that from Dr. Sarno's book?

The quote isn't from Sarno, but I've heard this from many sources. Unfortunately, none of them have been main stream.

Posted by Rookie:

Is it possible that stress is contributing to Galinari's back problems? I say yes, he's stressed out about playing against the bigger faster NBA and it's manifesting in his back. This guy has got to get over it. How many doctors have to tell him there is nothing physically wrong with him?

Yes, definately.

[Edited by - 4949 on 12-01-2008 2:59 PM]

The best example I can think of is Mariano Rivera after he gave up the bloop single to the Angels in the World Series which led to the Angels wining. The following season Rivera manifested lower back problems. It was a monumental loss on the biggest stage and for a closer that can be a real mental obstacle. All of a sudden, Galinari is on a big stage and everyone ids big, fast and physical. He needs to get out there and prove to himself that he can compete on this level. Mariano bounced back, but he played through the pain and never gave up....even in the face of the New York media .

Posted by Nalod:


If he was a 25year old research analyst bound to his desk 16 hours a day while at home his nympho wife is doing his friends and racking up credit cards while falling behind on their condo payments and caring for his dying mother after the car accident killed his sister trying (but failed) to not hit your champion breed best friend dog. sounds like an old timey country western song!

That's one hell of a stretch dude. It could simply be a personal problem he's having with himself.

that 19 year old boy stood up to this:




He played at a high level last year as an 18 year old and performed well in the clutch as the go to guy, so the stress thing has always been ok.

Im not saying this back problem thing is not real.. I read Sarno's book and understand it well.

We just don't know the kid enough to say this it whats causing it.

maybe he's banging too many chicks... that can lead to back spasms.

stay away from the jailbait Gallo