Only You Can Prevent Back Pain!
By Sara Butler
Back pain is a very common affliction in the United States today. According to the American Chiropractic Association, there’s an 80 percent chance for people to experience it at some point in their lives. But, it’s not inevitable. You can fight back against statistics by understanding the ways in which you and your chiropractor can fight back against back pain and prevent it from happening to you.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight is something many people struggle with, but if you can be successful, then good spine health is waiting. Your spine is strong, but when you carry excess body weight it can put stress and strain on your lower back. It can change the natural curvature of the spine and cause a plethora of problems – back pain being just one of them.
Practice Good Posture
One of the leading causes of back pain is poor posture, so your grandmother wasn’t just giving you grief for no reason all those years ago when she told you to stop slouching! Poor posture can become a habit, which is why you need to make a plan with your chiropractor to help you break your poor posture habits and practice good posture throughout the day.
Don’t Slouch While You Slumber
OK – so you don’t really slouch in your sleep, but you can sleep in a way that is not healthy for your spine. The best sleeping positions will support the natural curves of your spine. Back sleeping is generally regarded as the best, with side sleeping right on its heels. If you’re a stomach sleeper then you need to try to quit because that position wreaks havoc on your spine and can make for some major back pain.
You need to make sure that even if you do sleep in a position that is recommended, you take the pressure off your spine by using pillows to help support your body; under or between the knees is a great place to start with pillows to help relieve tension on your lower back.
Wardrobe Malfunctions
Everyone wants to be fashionable, but your fashion choices might just be hurting your back. When you wear tight clothing that makes it difficult to properly bend, sit, and walk, then you might just be doing some serious damage to your back. So, put away the skinny jeans and let your body breathe a bit.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.
