Understanding what you can do to keep your spine healthy can have huge benefits. You can learn from your health practitioner, find useful tips online, and even invest in a quality network builder to help connect professionals and experts who can build communities to share information. These could help others learn why keeping your spine in excellent condition is so important.
Back pain is a widespread problem that affects millions of people all over the world. Living with the illness can be distracting at best and debilitating at worst. Unfortunately, however, it is often difficult to pinpoint a particular cause, and so treatment can more be a case of trial and error, which can be lengthy and frustrating.
By taking the time to keep your spine healthy, you can reduce the likelihood of suffering from back pain and significantly reduce any current discomfort, which can have a hugely positive impact on your quality of life.
Most of the steps are easy to follow and are simply about learning how to move and support yourself in the right way. So if you are looking to decrease your back pain and improve the health of your spine, use the following tips to help you.
1. Learn to lift correctly
Lifting objects the wrong way can cause damage to your spine and increase the chances of you pulling a muscle in your back. To lift correctly, you should bend at the knees, keep close to the object, and use the power of your legs to push up rather than your upper body. Try to know your limits, and if an item is too heavy, seek help.
2. Get the right amount of sleep
Rest is so crucial for many areas of our health and wellbeing. Making sure you get a full, restful night’s sleep to allow your body to recover and repair is vital. Sleeping on your side, and investing in a quality mattress and supportive pillow can also help relieve pressure on the spine.
3. Take time to stretch out
Muscles can get stiff and tight throughout the day, especially after exercise. Taking the time to stretch regularly will keep muscles toned and flexible and ensure the joints are working smoothly too. Stretching also reduces the risk of injury.
4. Keep fit
Exercising regularly is also vital for spine health. It would help if you aimed to do at least three sessions of 30 minutes of cardio exercise, followed by using gentle weights to keep your muscles healthy. Strong muscles can support your body and will make it easier to stay active and energized too.
5. Maintain a healthy weight
If you are overweight, this will put undue pressure on your spine, which could cause back pain and increase the risk of strain or injury. If you are overweight, try to lose those extra pounds by eating a healthy balanced diet and increasing your activity level.
6. Drink plenty of water
Staying hydrated will keep soft tissues in the body stretchy and elastic and will also ensure fluidity in the joints. Our spinal disks must remain hydrated; otherwise, they could lose height, making them more susceptible to certain conditions. Discs could also become brittle, making it easier for them to slip out of place.
7. Take breaks and move during the working day
If you work in an office environment where you are sitting at a computer a lot of the day, it is essential to stretch out and take regular breaks to keep your body moving and reduce the risk of injury.
8. Invest in a supportive chair for the office
Whether you suffer from back problems or not, a supportive, adjustable office chair will help to keep you sitting in the correct position and reduce stress on both your lower and upper back.
9. Manage stress
If you are feeling particularly stressed or anxious, this can cause muscles to tense up. Make sure that you are aware of areas of tension in the body, and if you are feeling stressed, try to address this and utilize techniques such as meditation to help relieve it.
10. Be alert for any problems which could worsen in left untreated
Make sure you pay attention to any warning signs that could be an indication of more severe medical conditions. While back pain is common, it could be a sign of an underlying condition that needs proper medical attention.
By following the above tips, you can hope to keep your spine healthy, flexible, and in excellent condition. The spine has a tremendous job to do and supports so many areas of the body, so keeping it healthy is the smart choice and could prevent years of pain and discomfort later down the line.
Photo by Jesper Aggergaard on Unsplash
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