Tips For Preventing Back Pain

If you don’t want to fall victim to the “Oh my aching back” syndrome then it is important to be smart about ways to protect your back and prevent problems from occurring. Back pain treatment begins with prevention

Listen to what your back has to say
Pain is your body’s way of warning you that damage is occurring or is about to occur. If you are engaged in any activity that is causing you pain then stop what you are doing right away. Do not keep doing what you are doing or you could make the injury much worse.

Exercise regularly
Exercising on a regular basis supports a healthy and limber back. It also increases your strength and mobility. Some excellent exercises to engage in include cycling, swimming and brisk walking. Choose exercises that you enjoy and ones that do not cause pain. A strong healthy back is less prone to injury.

Warm up and cool down
Before you do any type of physical activity whether it be a form of exercise, participating in sports, gardening or shovelling snow you should always warm up your body to decrease your chance of injuries. Simple stretching exercises are good ways to warm up. In the same way, you should always cool down after engaging in physical activity of any kind.

Lift things the right way
When you lift an object, whether it be heavy or light, you should keep it as close to your body as possible. Keep your back straight and bend at the knees. Make sure you do not twist as you lift as this can contribute to injuries. Never lift anything away from your body as this causes undue strain on the back. Be aware that you can do your back more damage if you pick up a light object the wrong way than if you pick up a heavy object the right way.

Be as mobile as possible
Sitting for a long period of time can put stress on the discs of your back and can cause weakness in your muscles. Get up and move around as often as possible when you are at home, at work or during a long drive.

Buy “back friendly” supportive furniture
Buy furniture that promotes a healthy back. For example buy chairs with proper support that make it possible for you to sit correctly in them with your feet planted flat on the floor. Your bed should not be hard but the base should be firm and the mattress should be soft enough to mould to your body but firm enough to lend support.

Sleep in a good position
Sleep in a manner that is comfortable and good for your back. Lying on your side is one of the better positions for back health while sleeping on your stomach can put undue pressure on your neck and back.