Back pain is a chronic problem for many people around the world, especially those of us who are "30something" and over. But there are noninvasive ways to reduce and even eliminate back pain -- without going under the knife.

Of course, it is up to each individual to take care of their back, and to be aware of any stress they may be adding to the back muscles as they go through their daily life. But in this article, we'll discuss some natural ways to alleviate chronic back problems before your situation becomes critical and you wind up in a hospital bed.

Step number one is to see your family doctor and talk to them about your back problem. If the pain in your back began after an accident or other injury, your physician may elect to run tests to determine the exact cause of the problem.

But for many people, back pain is the result of stress, poor posture, and lack of exercise, in these situations, one of the most common remedies is also the simplest: rest. It is important to note that the time to rest your back is before the situation becomes severe.

When you begin noticing soreness or sharp shooting pains in the back, especially the lower back, it is important to rest your back as soon as possible by getting bed rest. It may be necessary to stay off your feet for a few days, but you are much better off doing this when the pain is minor than waiting until the problem is severe.

Bed rest is nature's way of healing the body, and simply staying off your feet and avoiding any unnecessary movement is one of the most reliable and easy-to-implement cures for back pain.

As an alternative, you can also rest your back by a lying on the floor with pillows tucked underneath your knees to straighten out your spine. Using an exercise or yoga mat can make this position more comfortable, and you can even adjust the television so you have something to occupy your mind while you remain in this position for an extended length of time.

Other than getting plenty of rest, another thing that can help ease muscular spasms in the back is applying heat. Using a heating pad is ideal for this. Simply situate the pad comfortably on the area of your back that is sore and remain lying still with the heat applied as much as possible throughout the day. Remember, when you're back hurts, any movement has the potential to exacerbate the problem, so remaining still is important.

Finally, one of the most overlooked ways to calm a chronic sore back is through stretching. It is important to note, however, that you must consult your physician before beginning any program of stretching or otherwise exercising your back muscles.

Yoga is one low impact exercise regimen that can benefit the back by gradually stretching and strengthening the muscles. When beginning any program like this, even if it is approved by your physician, it is always sensible to start out very easy, and resist the temptation to try to over-stretch or exercise too much too soon.

It is up to you to take care of your back in your day-to-day life. An awareness of how you are moving and lifting objects is important in order to avoid aggravating the muscles, tendons and disks of your back in the first place. Using these commonsense tips can help reduce or eliminate minor back pain in many situations.