It's estimated that 80% of the US population will suffer from Back Pain.
It could be excruciating pain or a dull annoyance.
Either way, most of us have experienced some discomfort coming from our backs.
To do our best to prevent back pain, we need to know what causes it.
In the article below, we will learn about the five most common causes of back pain and what you can do to fix it.
Table of Contents
- Posture
- Quit Smoking
- Keep Moving
- Eat Right
- Maintain A Healthy Weight
- The Arrowhead Clinic of Atlanta
Posture
These days, most people sit around too much.
Whether it's in front of a computer or on the couch, we are usually slouched over.
When we sit in this posture for an extended time, our hip flexors begin getting shorter and tighter, pulling us even further forward.
This creates a lengthening effect in your lower back muscles, and it begins to reshape your natural pelvic tilt making you a less effective mover.
One way to fix your posture is to ask your boss for a stand-up desk.
A standing desk will place your screen at eye level and allow you to stand up for most of the day.
This will decrease the amount of pressure placed on your lumbar discs right away and helps maintain proper blood circulation.
If you can't get a standing desk, you can at least stretch throughout your day.
Go to a door frame at work, hook your fingers around the top of the frame, and slowly allow your body to drop down as though you are hanging from the frame.
This will also help decompress your spine.
Quit Smoking
Cigarettes don't just damage your heart and lungs.
Smokers are known to have a higher incidence of recurring back problems.
Nicotine restricts blood flow to vertebrae and discs, causing them to age and break down quickly.
Nicotine can also interfere with your body's ability to properly absorb and use calcium, leading to osteoporosis-related bone and structure problems.
Keep Moving
Typical advice for people with back pain symptoms is to ice, rest, and take a pain reliever.
This is okay in the acute inflammatory stage of care, but you need to go beyond this to help alleviate ongoing symptoms.
Staying sedentary is bad for your back pain in the long run.
Walking, using an elliptical, and swimming boost blood flow to your back muscles while relieving pain and stiffness.
Yoga and foundation training can also be extremely beneficial for stretching and strengthening your low back.
Eat Right
The standard American diet lends itself to a host of problems.
High levels of low-level inflammation throughout our bodies from digesting processed foods is the main problem caused by our diets.
It would be best to get more anti-inflammatory foods like berries, fatty fish, and avocados.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
If you are overweight, your risk for back pain is much higher.
Studies show that overweight people do not respond as well to treatment as people with a healthy weight.
In overweight people, elevated inflammation levels keep them from responding optimally to treatment.
Eliminating excess body fat should be your primary goal to help reduce chronic back pain symptoms and improve your chiropractic care quality.
The Arrowhead Clinic of Atlanta
Now that you know the five most common causes of back pain, you can prevent them.
But if you've been suffering from back pain for a while now, you may need extra help.
That's where chiropractic care comes in.
Chiropractic care can help reduce your back pain and get your body functioning at an optimum level.
Then all you have to do is avoid the things that might bring back your back pain.
To schedule a free consultation with the Atlanta Chiropractor, click the button below.
