Stop Back Pain For Good
A common sight these days are hunched shoulders, heads popping forward like pigeons and everyone complaining about their back pain.
It's no wonder that so many people suffer from back pain with the lifestyle the majority of us lead.
The good news is that you don't have to live with it. There are many simple ways that the majority of people can alleviate or even completely get rid of their back pain.
The information in this article may well help you, however back injuries are a complicated issue and I highly recommend seeing a health practitioner if you have any problems. Written in this article is information obtained purely from personal experience and people that I have met.
Chiropractors and Physical Therapists may well be able to help you out. Just ensure that you do your research and seek out the good ones.
Remember that the body is a whole synergistic system and your back pain could actually be caused by tight hips, weak glutes and hamstrings or even your feet! A good practitioner should be able to asses you thoroughly and give you further guidance on any problem areas.
Here are some tips that will help to alleviate and prevent back pain;
Move More and Sit Less
The spine loves movement. Get up, walk, jog, squat, stretch, roll about like a dog, just do any kind of movement that doesn't aggravate your condition. Move often and in ways which do not aggravate your symptoms. Gentle exercise will assist the healing process if you have back pain. Just don't aggravate your condition by pushing through bad pain. Moving regularly won't just help your back but also your entire body. Sitting down all day will wreak havoc on your body and can contribute to back pain. Ensure that you get up and move around regularly.
Stretching and Mobility
Flexibility is very important and a major cause of many back injuries is down to a lack of flexibility and mobility. Just be careful and take things slowly. Doing this under the guidance of a health practitioner is wise. Just be wary as stretching and mobilising the wrong areas can make things worse. For example, if your back pain is caused by weak hamstrings and glutes, (often the case due to the amount of sitting humans endure these days) then stretching them will only make things worse. They will require strengthening in this case. Do your research before trying to mobilise your body!
Hydration
In order for the spine to move freely, it must have adequate hydration. Drink plenty of clean pure water throughout every single day. Filtered or high quality bottled water is best.
Omega 3 Oil
Omega 3 oil lubricates the joints and provides numerous other benefits including healthy eyes, skin and hair. Great fish free options (ethical and less heavy metal contamination) such as Testa supplements or simply a variety of seeds (chia, flax, etc.) are excellent choices.
Joint Support
There are many decent joint supplements out there which may help you. Glucosamine, Chondroitin and MSM are a good place to start. Boswellia is also well known for its benefits.
Sleep Properly
Many people experience back pain when they get out of bed. If you lie on your back, try placing a pillow under your knees. If you sleep on your side, try putting one between the knees. You should never, ever sleep on your front as it puts your spine in an awful position.
Get Tight
Before you even think about picking something up of any considerable weight, you should organise your spine to ensure that you don't hurt yourself. The best way to do this is stand up straight, squeeze your glutes (yes, clench your buttcheeks) and tighten your abs. Breathe in before picking anything up, the heavier the item, the tighter your body should be. Use your legs to lift where possible and keep the item close your body. Keep yourself tight throughout the entire lift and your spine will be protected. (You should be doing this every time you lift things in the gym too, especially when deadlifting and squatting).
Relax
A lot of back pain can be worsened by stress. Try and include forms of meditation in your day. Tai Chi and yoga can be excellent for relieving symptoms. Not only that, it is likely that these practices will improve your life in general!
If you're reading this because you suffer from back pain, I hope that these tips help. Please share this information with anyone you know who may benefit from this information.
Remember, prevention is always better than the cure so be smart, sit up straight and follow the advice in this article to avoid the suffering that many have. Look after your body, you only get one!
