Did you know that at any given time, over 31 million people in the
US suffer from back pain? It’s true. In fact, 80% of all
Americans will have back problems and back pain at some point in
their lives.
Why is this?
I think it’s because we were never taught to take care of our back
on regular basis…like how we take care of our teeth. The simple
fact is most people neglect their spinal health. They take a
“reactive approach” which means they do nothing until a problem is
already there.
The better approach would be to take care of not only your spine
but your health on a regular and consistent basis. Aging and
stress break down our bodies and unless we are doing something
positive to keep our bodies healthy, then we are on a crash course
with back and body problems.
If you’ve had really bad back pain, you know what a life changer it
can be. It’s miserable. It negatively affects everything. But it
doesn’t have to be that way.
Here are some simple things you can take to reduce or eliminate
your back pain:
- First, it starts with “how you think.” The bottom line is you
can’t ignore your spinal health. There is a price to pay for
neglect. The best approach to health is “attention” instead of
neglect. You will want to take care of not only your spine but the
rest of your body on a regular basis…even when you are feeling
good. After all, you brush your teeth everyday and your teeth
don’t have pain. After all, who says you need to be in pain to
take care of yourself? - Next, use services that work great for back pain. Chiropractic
care has been PROVEN countless times to be the BEST choice for back
pain. So when you have back pain, make sure you get adjusted. And
when you are feeling good, get an adjustment once a month to
MAINTAIN your good health. A monthly adjustment will not only
prevent major back “flair ups” but will also keep your spine
healthy. Massage therapy and acupuncture can also help with back
pain and stiffness. - Exercise regularly. Your body was meant to “move.” Your joints
like motion, so if you aren’t moving and exercising regularly, your
joints will stiffen up. This includes your back. So make sure you
are active and exercising. Even something simple like taking a
walk every day is better than doing nothing. - Stretch regularly. It’s important that you keep the muscles in
your back and legs limber and flexible. The tighter these muscles
get, the bigger chance you have of developing back pain. Make sure
you stretch after you exercise. - Pay attention to how you lift things. Make sure you bend with
your legs and not at the waist. Keep the object you are lifting
as close to you as possible. And try not to bend and twist.
Instead, turn your entire body. - Check your mattress. It’s important that you have a quality
mattress that gives you BOTH comfort and support. A bad mattress
can be a cause of developing back pain. - Watch your posture. A bad posture doesn’t just look bad; it’s
bad for your back too. Pay attention to how you stand and sit. If
you work at a desk all day, or on a computer, make sure you
maintain good posture. I promise that if you incorporate these strategies into your daily
routine, your back will feel great!
If you have any questions or comments, just email me. I’d love to
hear from you!
Sincerely,
Dr. Justin Trosclair DC
