Chiropractic Care 101: Surprising Causes of Back Pain
Check out this list of lesser-known causes of back pain! It's not just poor footwear and lumpy mattresses that are giving you that painful crick in the spine.
- Your diet: One of the best things you can do for your back is to maintain a healthy weight. Eating a diet that is high in fatty food will increase your weight and cause unnecessary strain on your back. Studies have shown that slimmer societies have less reports of back pain.
- Staying sedentary: If you aren't out there exercising from time to time you might be adding weight to your frame that is causing back pain. Exercise also strengthens your back muscles that help support your back, and give you more mobility.
- Poor posture: Do you find that you slump your shoulders forward? Well this poor posture is pulling on your back and causing back pain. "Your ears should be over your shoulders, your shoulders over your hip joints, and your hips over your ankles," says Neil Kirschen, MD.
- The chairs you sit in: The human body is designed for movement. When we are sitting down for more than a couple hours we are putting pressure on discs in our spine. If you have a job that has you sitting, make sure you are getting up to walk around and stretch your body.
- Old shoes: You know that pair of expensive, sensible, comfortable shoes you bought 2 years ago? Throw them out! Worn out shoes can cause back pain just like high heels can. The wear and tear makes them uneven and can alter your step, thus resulting in back pain.
- Old Mattresses: Same as those shoes, if you have a mattress that is old and worn through, it is time to think about getting a new one. If you start sinking into the mattress at night it may be time to look into a new one.
- Ladies, your unsupportive bra: When you are carrying more weight in the front due to larger cup sizes you really need to make sure your bra is supportive, and helpful by keeping the weight closer to your body.
- Purses/Bags/Wallets: When you are carrying a shoulder bag on just one side this is creating an off balance strain on your back muscles. Even something like a heavy wallet in a pocket can put pressure on the sciatic nerve and cause back pain.
- Smoking: Those cigarettes are cutting of oxygen to your cells and this includes the cells that control your back. Smoking has been shown to directly cause back pain!
- You mood: Stress and depression have both been linked to increasing back pain. Whether it is due to the fact that people often opt to be more sedentary when feeling this way, or that stress increases pain in some people these emotions affect your back.
Always consult your chiropractor or primary care physician if you are experiencing any back pain.
Article: http://www.everydayhealth.com/back-pain-pictures/10-surprising-back-pain-causes.aspx#/slide-1
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