Extra Weight and Back Pain: Link and Solutions
By Genevieve Cunningham
Most of us nowadays live with a few extra pounds. We may not move as much as we should or eat as well as we’d like, and carrying around a bit of extra weight is the consequence. It’s easy to brush off a little excess weight as no big deal. What’s 10 or 15 pounds, right? We still feel pretty good. But even if you feel fairly good, excess weight can bring about a whole host of negative side effects. Blood pressure problems, heart disease, diabetes, and many others are tied to our weight. But while these are more likely to hurt you down the line somewhere, there’s another side effect that may already be giving you problems: Back pain. Take a look at how back pain and discomfort are tied to extra weight, followed by what you can do about it.
Extra Weight Equals Extra Pressure
The biggest way in which extra weight may hurt your back is by placing it under too much stress. Our frames, made of our bones and muscles and ligaments, are a certain size. Some of us are made tiny and petite while others are wide and strong. No matter what your natural frame is, it comes with an ideal weight. Your ideal weight for your frame may be between 120 and 140 pounds. If you carry around extra weight, you may be placing additional pounds on a body that wasn’t designed to carry it. If you put 160 pounds on a frame meant for 120, you’re going to have some additional pressure and pain, especially in the back.
Extra Weight Makes Exercise Difficult
Back pain can be reduced with consistent exercise, but exercise becomes much more difficult when you’re in pain. Exercise can also lead to weight loss, but with the pain, exercise is less than desirable. It turns into a vicious cycle that is hard to beat. And to make it even more complicated, the more weight you gain, the more your back is likely to hurt. If you want to quit this frustrating cycle, you might need another way to get started.
A Solution for Both: Chiropractic Care
It’s important to point out that chiropractic care, in and of itself, will not help you lose weight. But, it can help to diminish back pain. And less back pain may mean more exercise, which can then lead to weight loss. Chiropractors may be able to keep your spine properly aligned. This technique not only diminishes pain in general, but may also restore some flexibility and improve overall health. Since the back pain/weight gain cycle can be so tough to beat, get chiropractic care to get the process started.
If you would like to get chiropractic care to help keep you healthy, check out The Joint Chiropractic. At The Joint, getting care is easy and stress-free. Just use their walk-in visits (no appointments necessary!) and affordable pricing plan (no insurance at all!) to get quality care without the worry and hassle. There are so many steps that you can take to improve your health. Get a head start with a quick trip to The Joint as soon as today.