Back pain of all severities affects millions of Americans each and every day, and many wonder just as frequently how they might prevent or rid themselves of it for good. Fortunately, our incredible health and wellness specialists at Balanced Health & Wellness know exactly how to help, and have put together a few tips for preventing back pain that are officially endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). They are:
Maintaining A Healthy Weight/Diet
Your diet can have a lot to do with your musculoskeletal health. If you’re not getting enough a certain nutrients, like vitamin D or calcium, your bones and/or joints may even start to deteriorate altogether. You have to make sure you getting enough protein, fiber, vitamins, and more to optimize your health and keep your weight under control, which will also reduce unnecessary stress on your muscles, bones, and joints. In fact, while you’re adding better things to your life, don’t be afraid to say goodbye to certain bad habits as well, like smoking, which can restrict blood flow and reduce necessary oxygen and nutrients in your spinal tissues. Need some extra help figuring out what your body needs? Try our nutritional counseling at Balanced Health & Wellness!
Staying Active The Right Way
Exercising regularly is great for keeping back pain under control, so long as you remember to run all new exercise programs and classes by your chiropractor or primary care leader. While pushing yourself to reach new limits is always good, it is always possible to push yourself too far, which can lead to serious injuries and worsened conditions. Simply lifting something heavy with your back instead of your knees, or twisting at the wrong time, is more than enough to cause injury. And whatever you do, do not allow yourself to remain inactive or on bed rest whenever possible, even if all you can do is get up and go for a brief walk. And remember, if you ever want to learn more about how to exercise properly, our therapeutic instructional classes at The Classroom have all the information you need about physical alignment and more.
Warming Up and Cooling Down Appropriately
Before and after exercising, or doing any physical activities of any kind, make sure you go through your warm ups and cool downs to prevent injuries and back pain. Stretch your muscles and get your blood flowing, focus on your breathing and keeping your heart rate under control. If you need additional advice on how to properly warm up or cool down, our exercise instruction is sure to have all the answers you need.
Practicing Good Posture
Whether you’re working, or walking around, maintaining good posture and making sure you have an ergonomic environment will go a long way in preventing back pain. Over time, you’ll be much more aware of your spines position, and able to make adjustments accordingly almost without thought.
Choosing The Right Shoes
Heels and most cheap shoes are not made for comfort or support, which can greatly impact the way you walk, ultimately shifting the way your body moves until your while system is out of whack. So, rather than buying whatever’s cheapest, or choosing style over function, consider the toll it’s taking on your health and consider asking someone to help you find a shoe with more support.
Choosing The Right Mattress
On average, a person spend nearly a third of their day in bed. That means, if you have a bad mattress, you are basically damaging your spine for hours at a time without even knowing it. People with back pain should always have a medium to firm mattress at home, keeping in mind that the more you weigh, the firmer your mattress will have to be to support you properly. If you ever have questions about your needs, never be shy to discuss your pain and conditions with a mattress salesman to ensure they’re well aware of what you’re looking for.
Choosing The Right Support
The best way to prevent or alleviate back pain, of course, is to have the right help and support from professionals you can count on, like ours at Balanced Health & Wellness! Reach out to our experienced wellness staff at Balanced Health & Wellness today at 248.397.8122 or simply fill out the form in the sidebar to schedule your appointment.
