Top 5 Tips for a Happy Spine
Back pain is a common condition that affects nearly 65 million American’s per year. The pain can be brought on by a wide variety of stressors such as injuries or genetic factors. If you’ve ever experienced back pain you know just how debilitating it can be, and how quickly it can diminish your quality of life. While back pain isn’t always preventable, here are our top 5 tips for keeping your spine happy and healthy.
Sitting at Work
A large portion of today’s workforce sits at desks all day, which can take a toll on your spine. If you are at a desk day in and day out try to change up your position frequently and stand when you can. If you do need to sit, make sure you sit up and keep your spine straight. Adjust your chair settings so that your hips and knees are level and have your feet either firmly planted on the floor or have something supporting them. If you’re working on a computer or monitor, adjust it so that it’s right at eye level so that you don’t have to strain your neck to look at it.
Get Those Zzz’s
Make sure you’re getting the proper amount of sleep. For average adults that number is generally between 7-9 hours. That time allows your body to rest and repair itself so that you wake up feeling refreshed. Invest in a mattress and pillow that will give you the proper amount of support for your spine and neck while your sleep. Sleeping either on your stomach or back puts a tremendous amount of pressure on your spine so oftentimes it can be better for overall spine health to sleep on your side which relieves that pressure.
Maintain Fitness
As busy adults, it can sometimes be difficult to fit in an exercise routine. When we aren’t exercising this causes our muscles to become weaker, which can lead to injury. This can happen in your spine especially. It’s important to keep up with a light exercise routine such as walking, swimming, or going to the gym to keep your spine strong and healthy.
Get Proper Shoes
Something to keep in mind is the impact of what we’re wearing on our feet can have on our spine. By constantly wearing shoes with no support or shoes that are not properly fitted, this can lead to mobility issues and back pain. While supportive shoes may not always be the most attractive option, your spine will thank you! Many local running stores will perform a free gait analysis and work with you on understanding just how your feet and legs move, and what kind of support you will need in a shoe.
Don’t Ignore Pain
While all these tips are great for helping to prevent back pain, if you’re already experiencing pain it’s important to not ignore it. Our bodies are intuitive, so listen to what it’s telling you. If you’re concerned about back pain, seek medical care and understand your treatment options.
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