Have you been having back troubles? It can seem hard to pinpoint precisely why pain may have reared its head because there could be a variety of circumstances contributing to your malady. An acute injury is certainly possible, but it’s far more likely that the damage you’ve sustained is the result of an accumulation of things over the course of time.
If you can separate each of these factors and tackle them one by one, you should hopefully be able to identify the root cause of the problem before it gets out of hand. Lifestyle adjustments are the preferred course of action prior to looking into a surgical means of intervention, and you want to exhaust every option before taking that leap. A new report out of Wisconsin highlights an orthopedic surgeon’s tips on some of the things one can pay attention to to improve back health.
Posture is one of the most common yet overlooked factors playing into the health of your back. When you stand up ramrod straight, you do your entire body a favor by not putting excessive pressure on your frame. Hunching actually pulls your spine forward unnaturally, causing it to hoist more weight over the course of your day.
You can help yourself in this regard, but it’s going to be a little bit tricky if your inclination is to lean forward. Sucking in your gut and lifting your head up straight while you walk can provide assistance, as can doing the same while you sit down. One big way to improve posture is to engage in an exercise that provides fitness to your core. When you do things like situps and other moves that work your abdominal muscles, you’ll naturally want to stand up straighter.
While engaging in exercises that strength your core or your lower back, make sure to execute proper form. In fact, you should carry this proper form over to your everyday life. Lifting things in an improper manner can put a lot of pressure on your spine. Even loads that don’t seem like they weigh much can be dangerous if you’re using your back rather than your legs to lift and you’re carrying the load far away from your body. Pull things in, and always bend your knees rather than your back.
The other thing you’ll want to remember is that activity will be your best friend. The temptation to slouch or misalign your back will naturally increase if you’re stuck in one spot for a long time, like at the office during your workday. Get up and out of your chair regularly, or if you have the opposite problem, where you’re forced to stand a long time, then at least be sure to stretch every couple of hours to loosen up tightness in your spine.
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