It may surprise you to hear that people of all ages can suffer from back pain! An estimated 85% of the world’s population experience back pain at some point in their life, often chronically. Back pain is the leading contributor to employees calling in sick, the irony being that very often it is their job sitting improperly at a desk all day that have caused it in the first place! Back pain can be debilitating, making it hard to move, or even rest comfortably.
If you are someone who is experiencing this malady on a regular basis we recommend that you seek expert help through physical therapy for back pain, to get you on the road to recovery! Of course, the best way to treat back pain is through prevention so you don’t experience it in the first place, but if it is happening to you, along with the physical therapy regimen your health care experts have recommended, try the following remedies:
Maintain Proper Posture – You should have listened to your mother when she told you not to slouch! Poor posture can cause back pain, and without adjusting your stance, continue to make it worse. Sitting for long periods of time at your work desk while crouching over the keyboard is a common cause of back pain as well. It’s important to stand and sit upright, keeping your shoulders loose and relaxed. If you are sitting, make sure your body is supported by the back of your chair. Placing a rolled-up towel or a pillow between your lower back and the seat can also help. Finally, make sure your feet are kept flat on the floor to help you maintain proper posture.
Don’t Just Lie There – At one time doctors recommended bed rest to ease back pain, but we know now that lying still for extended periods of time is liable to just make things worse, and even cause other complications to occur! The best course of action is to not rest longer than a day, then carefully get up and move around slowly, gently stretching your sore muscles. Regular exercise like walking, swimming, and doing yoga are all excellent ways to prevent and relieve back pain.
Heat And Ice – If you are suffering from a sore back try applying an icepack for twenty minutes to reduce inflammation and relieve the pain. Make sure to wrap the ice pack in cloth to protect the skin. After using ice for several days, switch over to a heating pad, which will increase blood flow to the afflicted area and also relax the muscles. A great way to feel better is to take a warm bath, it will relax your whole body so the healing can take effect.
Our back is one of the most important parts of our body, it is used in nearly every activity we engage in, and when it is suffering we feel frustrated and discouraged because we can’t do the things we normally do. Taking measures to protect our back and prevent back pain are well worth the time and effort!
