Back Pain Folklore: Tall Tales of Your Spine
By Sara Butler
You can find information about back pain in a lot of places these days and the amount of information out there has reached mythical proportions. Back pain is a hot topic because it impacts the lives of so many people, but you must be careful to find out what is real and what isn't real when talking about this topic. The chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic want to touch on a few of the most prevalent myths out there about back pain and help you to understand the truth behind them so you can make better choices about your own spinal health.
Myth No. 1: If Your Back Hurts, You Need to Rest
It used to be believed that back pain benefited from bed rest, but it's now understood that is the wrong approach. In fact, chiropractors now know that bed rest for back pain can often make the pain worse and the recovery process slower. It's best to partake in a light activity, such as walking, that can help your body to accelerate the healing process.
Of course, ice and some rest is still a good idea when you injure your back or experience pain, but it's not a situation in which you need to sequester yourself to your bed for days on end (or even one whole day!). Always make an effort to move and keep moving.
Myth No. 2: Posture Only Matters When Standing or Sitting
You probably have heard about the importance of proper posture from your chiropractor, but if you assume that it's only important during the day, then you're wrong. Your posture when you sleep has an impact on your spinal health and the amount of back pain you suffer from.
Sleep is the time when your body heals and restores itself to face another day. If you're not allowing your body to rest itself completely because you're sleeping in an awkward posture that puts stress and strain on your spine, then you'll feel it in the morning.
Talk to your chiropractor about what you can do at night to properly support your body and the natural curves of your spine. You may need to rethink your current sleeping position and try to get into better sleeping habits.
Myth No. 3: You Can't Heal Back Pain - Once the Damage is Done, It's Done
Researchers have found that even people in their 90s can improve their posture in a way significant enough to help relieve back pain and discomfort, so you shouldn't just grin and bear it! Good posture isn't only about your spine but about the muscles in your body that support your spine, so you should always be working to make your muscles stronger and more flexible. It's never too late!
The best thing you can do for your health and wellness is to try to stay on top of the facts. If you need help, the chiropractors at The Joint are excellent resources!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Renton, Wash.