Most of us take our back for granted. We lift heavy boxes and twist from side to side when carrying large bags of shopping, all without giving it a thought.
Or, you may be living a rather sedentary lifestyle, spending several hours sitting in your office chair hunched over your desk, staring at your laptop, and thus struggle with you posture on a daily basis.
The truth is, our bodies are not designed to bend from the waist and nor is our back equipped to cope with many years where we are inactive and spend the majority of our days in an unhealthy position.
So if your back is beginning to twinge at the end of the day, or you would prefer to avoid the possible onset of severe or chronic back pain, here are some tips to help you keep your back nice and healthy.
Maintain Good Posture
Correct posture is very important. In our grandma’s day, we would have been taught to walk like a lady by way of a heavy book balanced on our head. It may sound crazy, but this really is a good way to practice good posture. Instead of slumping in a chair all day, sit up straight, and if you do a lot of driving, you can wear a lumbar support belt.
Don’t Sit Down All Day
Sitting down at a desk, hunched over a keyboard is probably the worst thing you can do for your back. Unfortunately, this is the norm for a huge number of people. To prevent back problems, avoid sitting down for long periods at a time and make sure you take a break from your desk at least once an hour. Stand up, stretch, and go for a quick walk. It will do your back and your sanity the world of good.
Invest in a Good Pain of Shoes
Good shoes will ensure your spine is also comfortable and can help absorb some of the shock that spinal discs would otherwise have to sustain.
Ensure You Sleep In a Comfortable Position
Your sleeping position can have a great impact on the health of your spine, and as such, it is best to adjust the position that you sleep in to ensure your back is fully supported.
For example, if you tend to sleep on your side, place a pillow in-between your knees to ensure that your spine doesn’t curve in an excessive manner.
Exercise
Following an exercise program is probably one of the best ways to keep your back healthy. For people who suffer from a bad back, or who wish to prevent back pain, there are many benefits associated with exercising in this case.
You don’t necessarily need to work with a physical therapist to do exercises that are beneficial for your back, but rather there are various types of exercises that you can do on your own.
Exercises such as Yoga and Pilates are great as they help maintain your spinal mobility and also strengthen your back and core muscles. Having a strong core is especially important as it helps support your torso and back.
Lighter exercises like walking are also beneficial, as they can keep your spine mobile and increase blood flow. Needless to say, walking is good for your overall health, and it helps relax the mind too.
Exercising also helps you maintain a healthy weight, which is crucial for a healthy back, as any excess weight that you body has to carry can put additional pressure on your spine, leading to a potential strain.
Decompress Your Spine
Spinal decompression is a great way to maintain your spinal health and to prevent back pain and other issues from arising later in life.
Both a sedentary lifestyle and a lifestyle that requires frequent heavy lifting can lead to the often-overlooked underlying issue behind many spinal problems – spinal compression. When you spine becomes compressed, the bones, discs, and nerves in your spine are squashed down. This can lead to irritation of the nerves, and the triggering of pain sensations.
To avoid developing spinal compression, you can use an innovative technology, called the Spinal Backrack, that will stretch out your spine and ensure it won’t get squashed down in the future.
Backrack Spinal Decompression Therapy
Author: Spinal Backrack
