Is Dehydration to Blame for Your Back Pain?
By Sara Butler
The chiropractors at The Joint see many people whose chief complaint is back pain and the reasons behind it vary. For some people, it may be as complicated as an injury or condition that’s causing swelling and inflammation leading to pain. Yet for some people the reason behind their back pain is simple -- they don’t drink enough water. Here’s how dehydration can cause back pain for you and how the chiropractor can help!
How Dehydration Leads to Back Pain
Your spine is a complicated structure comprised of bones, ligaments, muscles, and spinal discs that need plenty of water to function correctly. The spinal discs work to cushion the bones in your spine and absorb shock. They contain a high amount of water, so if you’re dehydrated they’ll be dehydrated too, making them unable to do their job the right way.
The muscles in the back will also become achy and stiff without proper hydration. It’s important to remember that as you grow older, you’re more likely to be dehydrated simply because you don’t drink enough water. That may be due to decreased activity in your day, but it also increases your risk of experiencing back pain due to dehydration.
How to Stay Hydrated
There are several ways to stay hydrated throughout the day. They include:
- Sip all day – Get a water bottle that you take with you everywhere and continue to sip from it all day long
- Eat it – Fruit is a great source of water, too; many fruits have a high water content, so eating them adds to your water total for the day. You can also go for vegetables such as cucumbers, celery, tomatoes, and leafy vegetables.
- Stay cool – When it’s hot out, do what you can to stay cool
- Sleep well – You can help your body stay healthy by making sure to sleep well at night. This is the time your body restores itself after a long day and if you’re adequately hydrated, then the discs in the spine will rehydrate during this time too
How the Chiropractor Helps
Your chiropractor can help you make a plan to keep hydrated all day long and can assess your lifestyle habits for you to help you work toward improving them. If you’re worried symptoms you may be having are a result of poor hydration, then you should discuss that with a chiropractor at The Joint today!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Sterling, Va.
