Thursday, 2 January 2014

Tips For A Healthy, Pain-Free Back

By Kamryn Mattson


One of the world's most common ailments is back pain, and experts believe that at any given moment as many as 30 million Americans are plague with some back pain, ranging from mildly uncomfortable to debilitating. In fact, about $50 billion dollars is spent in the United States each year to deal with these back issues. While some back problems need serious medical help, some back pain can be treated without medication and also lessened or avoided by following a few helpful tips.

One of the biggest reasons why people suffer from back pain is simply because they don't exercise enough and carry too much weight on their body. The more fit you are, the less likely you are to suffer from back pain. Of course, you might feel as though this is a Catch-22. You want to exercise, but you are in pain and are worried about further hurting your body. Even if you are suffering from some pain, light exercise can be a good way to keep muscles loose and lessen inflammation. So at least go for a low-impact walk, even if you are moving slowly.

Another way to avoid hurting your back is to practice good posture. If you work in a job where you stand a great deal, try to keep your back straight and stomach pulled in as much as possible. Firmer stomach muscles take some of the pressure of supporting your frame off of your back. If you sit at a desk most of the day, make sure you have a quality desk chair and don't slouch in the chair. Sit up straight and get up every hour or so, and stretch and walk around to keep your muscles from getting too stiff. When muscles are stiff, you are more likely to suffer from an injury.

The way you lift objects also can affect your back adversely. You've probably heard this before, but it's best to squat down and use your legs, arms and stomach muscles to help you lift heavy items rather than bending over and using back muscles for the job.

While it might seem easy to just take a few ibuprofen or another medicine to handle the pain, it's not good to rely on painkillers for long term pain relief. Using natural alternatives such as visiting a masseuse or chiropractor can be a good option. You also can apply ice to a sore muscle to reduce swelling. Placing a physiological hybrid shape to the affected area is another medicine-free alternative to reduce back pain.

These physiological hybrid shapes were designed to reduce the pain of muscle injury and muscle strains. Athletes use them to reduce discomfort and allow enough freedom of movement to continue moving and working out. While a back brace restricts movement and tape is difficult to apply, the hybrid shapes are easy to apply and don't restrict your movement at all. They feature a unique design with a center point that provides extra structure and support. From there, the arms of the shape reach out to borrow stability and strength from underlying ligaments, muscles and tendons. You can wear a shape for as many as five days, and they will stay firmly on your lower or upper back with a strong, hypoallergenic adhesive.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment