Got Back Pain? 5 Ways to Relieve & Prevent Lower Back Pain
Lacey Got Back Pain? 5 Ways to Relieve & Prevent Lower Back Pain
Low back pain can be caused by many different reasons, including normal wear and tear that comes with aging. While you can’t go back to the future, there are things you can do to help keep your back healthy.
Get in Shape
Weak muscles in your back and abdominal due to deconditioning or age can cause lower back pain. That’s why stretching and strengthening both your back and abdominal muscles is important not only for treating low back pain but also for helping to prevent any recurrence of the problem.
Exercise strengthens and loosens the muscles that support your spine. A good exercise to do should target the back, abdominal, and butt muscles. Strong abdominal or hip muscles, for example, help people maintain an upright posture, as do strong extensor muscles, which run the full length of the back and maintain alignment of the vertebrae. It has a double bonus by helping to improve your posture.
Stop Smoking
There are many types of bad habits that can impact your body negatively. If you are a smoker, you’ve heard that smoking is bad for your health. Not only does this habit raise your risk for lung cancer, heart disease, and tons of other health problems, it also puts your back at risk.
Research shows that smokers have more frequent episodes of back pain than nonsmokers, and the more a person smokes, the higher the risk that he or she will experience episodes of pain, according to one study.
Scientists believe that cigarettes contributes to low back pain because nicotine clogs the flow of blood to the vertebrae and discs in your back. This compromises their function and can trigger back pain. Smokers also tend to have loss of bone density faster than nonsmokers, putting them at greater risk for osteoporosis. Which is another common cause of back pain.
Create Better Habits
Bad posture is harder to correct than many think but can be worth it when you suffer from back pain. The pain may have started after a long workout at the gym, but the strain that caused it has probably been building for years. Most people have poor posture when going about their daily activities, putting unnecessary strain on their backs. Plenty of posture correction aids are available if bad posture is a culprit.
Along with posture improvement comes Stretching and flexibility. Adding stretching to improving your posture are complementary to each other. So don’t forget to stretch.
Ice it – Heat it
Heating pads and cold packs can comfort achy back pains. Doctors will recommend using ice for the first 48 hours after an injury, especially if you notice swelling, and then switching to a heat pack.
See a Specialist
Maybe none of these tricks or tips have worked. Sometimes you need some extra help and pair of hands. Muscles are typically the leading cause of back pain followed by herniated discs. Both are curable with Muscle Activation Technique. By strengthening the weak muscles, it provides a better support system for the rest of the area in pain. Get a free Consultation to see how MAT can help.