Preventing Back Strains with Chiropractic and Other Tips

By Stepy Kamei

Back pain is one of the most common causes of visits to urgent care and the doctor's office by Americans every year. This is at least partially due to the fact that back pain can be brought on by a wide variety of causes, and it can manifest itself in many different symptoms, such as a dull ache, a sharp and sudden pain, or stiffness in the joints. Straining the muscles in the back is one of the top causes of both acute as well as chronic back pain, and it's unfortunately not that difficult to do this to the back. Poor posture, lifting heavy objects in an improper manner, and not finding the proper balance between healthy amounts of exercise and healthy amounts of resting time are all key factors in why a person may experience strain and stress on their back and spine.

Practice Good Posture

We all know that having poor posture is considered having bad manners, but it can also lead to problems with back health as well. When the body isn't being correctly supported by the spine, due to a person's poor posture, the subject will often begin to suffer from various physical effects and symptoms. Back and neck pain are very common, as are headaches, stiffness in the joints, and even experiencing higher amounts of stress, anxiety, and fatigue throughout the day. By correcting your posture, you can be correcting many common health ailments you may not have realized were connected to this problem. 

Always remember to keep your spine as straight as possible, with your chin up and back. It may help to imagine a small string gently pulling you up from the top of your head. Roll your shoulders back to keep yourself from slouching, and avoid sitting or standing in one position for longer than two hours at a time.

Alternate Between Exercise and Rest

Speaking to that last point, you want to avoid remaining too sedentary throughout the day, so get up and move if you feel like you haven't in a while. Simply standing up at your desk and stretching for a minute or two can be enough, as can a short 10-minute walk around the block. If you feel tired or strained at any time, definitely be sure to rest.

If your pain or discomfort continues for longer than a day, consider coming in to see a chiropractor at The Joint. An adjustment may lead to relief of overworked muscles.