He tiptoed into the kitchen where she was cooking, humming a tune, oblivious to his presence. He grabbed her from behind, unmindful of her frightened screams, and then lifted her off the floor using his arms. The shriek soon gave way to laughter when Anjali understood that Tarun, her husband, was in an amorous mood. The euphoria evaporated when she found herself sprawled on the floor of her living room and Tarun clutching his back in agony.
Let’s face it. The pain in the back is here to stay, thanks to errant, sedentary lifestyles. The general fear is that back pain may impede good sex. But cheer up! It needn’t lead to abstinence.
According to the British Medical Journal, about 58 per cent of the population will have back trouble one time or the other, 70 – 90 per cent is caused by muscle or ligament problems rather than damage to the spine itself. So the general drift from back specialists these days is that, most of the time, the key to avoiding pain is to regularly stretch and strengthen your back muscles.
Back-sparing sex
Here are some general guidelines and a few sexual positions that have been found to minimise back pain, although they aren’t substitute for doctor’s advice.
Communicate: Communicate clearly what hurts and what doesn’t. Back pain could actuallhelp restock your sexual repertoire beyond the old ‘in-out’.
Get support: The person with the back pain should be so positioned so that the lower back is supported, like lie on the back, on a firm surface, with pillows under the knees.
Stay flat: Arching puts a lot of stress on the spine.
Get firm: Your mattress should be firm enough to give your back plenty of support during sex.
New tryouts for you
Woman on top: She controls the thrusting.
Doggy/rear entry: For a change, let the beast in your partner take over.
Lap top: A new way to work. You sit in a straight chair and she becomes your ‘lap top’. It may be more comfortable if you tuck a small pillow behind your lower back.
The writer is a sexologist. Mail him at dr.narayana @deccanmail.com
