Surprising Reasons for Back Pain
By Sara Butler
Back pain is quite common. In fact, the American Chiropractic Association says that a majority of people (up to 80 percent!) will have back pain at some point. Why is back pain so common? Well, there are a lot of reasons why so many people have back pain. The chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic want to educate you on some of the most common, and surprising, reasons why back pain strikes.
Stress
Believe it or not, worrying about work or going through a stressful time in your life can have an impact on back pain. Often, the mental and emotional distress people go through can manifest itself in physical ways. Muscle tension that many people may unknowingly experience because of stress can trigger back pain and neck pain. That's why it's important to think about ways you can work to relax and mitigate the stressors in your life. Yoga, a daily walk, or even relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, can help.
You Don't Eat Right
There has been a link made between nutrition and back pain. Many of the foods people eat for convenience, such as deep-fried foods and foods high in sugar can trigger inflammatory responses in the body. Often, if you can clean up your diet, then you can help reduce back pain too. Make sure to eat more whole foods and less processed foods in your life. It'll help you to maintain a healthy weight and cut back on chronic inflammation that can lead to health problems beyond back pain such as heart disease and diabetes.
Your Jeans Don't Fit
Those skinny jeans that are so fashionable may be doing more than making you look good, they could be causing back pain too! The British Chiropractic Association found that many women have back pain as a result of their wardrobe. High heels, big purses, and skinny jeans were the biggest offenders. Clothes that are too tight and restrict your body's range of motion and can make back pain an issue, so try on some clothes that allow a little more freedom and see if your back pain improves.
You Sit Too Much
Sitting all day is terrible for you, including the number it does on your back. Sitting can cause the muscles in your hips and legs to become tight, which can pull your body out of its natural posture and lead to pain. Make sure to get up and walk around at least once every hour if your job requires a lot of sitting. Throw in a few stretches for good measure too.
If you have back pain, then get to the bottom of why -- and let the chiropractors at The Joint help.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Austin, Tex.