5 Ways To Stop Back Pain Before It Stops You
No one has time for even a little bit of back pain. Back pain can get in the way of your productivity at work, playing with your kids, sitting, standing and sleeping. No part of your life is safe from the effects of an achy back. Prevention is always the best medicine because when your back suffers, everything suffers. You can stop back pain in its tracks before it stops you in yours by following these simple, preventative measures.
- Sit Pretty: Since most people nowadays spend the majority of their time in front of a computer, how you sit can be one of the biggest deciding factors of back pain or prevention. For when you’re at the office, invest in an office chair that supports your back in an S shape, not a C shape, keep your feet flat on the floor and your keyboard comfortably close to you. Use support pillows or footrests if necessary. Get up to walk or stretch at least once an hour, if not more often, and frequently change the position in which you’re sitting.
- Stand Tall: Good posture consists of keeping your knees, hips, ears and shoulders all in line like there’s a string pulling you up through the top of your head. Remember your stomach muscles? Helping you stand up easily in that good posture position is those muscles’ first priority. So engage them and let them do their work.
- Wear Soft Soles: Your feet are the foundation of your skeletal system and take the brunt of your weight, so be nice to them and give them a little cushion. This way, every time you take a step, your spine won’t be jarred as severely and your skeleton will have a smoother ride.
- Don’t Smoke: Surprised? Nicotine and the other chemicals found in cigarettes have been shown to restrict blood flow to the discs between your vertebrae. When blood flow is restricted, so is the oxygen and nutrient-supply to your spine which can lead to cramping and degeneration of the discs, aka chronic pain.
- Learn How to Lift: Whether you’re lifting something heavy or light, you still have to be gentle to your spine by lifting correctly. This means bending your knees instead of hunching your back, lifting from your legs, and using a table or chair for support if necessary.
Always consult your chiropractor or primary care physician for all your health related advice.