Fixing The 4 Bad Habits That Cause Back Pain

Did you know that back pain sends more patients to the doctors than the common cold? It is the 5^th most common reason for hospitalizations and the 3^rd most common cause of surgery! 50 percent of people living with lower back pain say symptoms are sometimes bad enough to interfere with their everyday lives.

There are multiple causes of back pain as well as multiple, non-invasive solutions to help get rid of your back pain. There are actually some every day habits that can take a toll on your back big time. Here are the top 4 mistakes that could possibly be causing your aches, as well as 4 ways to relieve them!

1. You’re tied to your desk

Did you know that sitting puts 40% more pressure on your spine than standing? During a busy day, maintaining proper posture is probably the last thing on your mind. However, skipping on the posture can cause your back to suffer - back muscles tend to weaken when you don’t use them and inactive joints lose lubrication and tend to age more quickly.

Fix it! Try sitting at a 135° angle - this will reduce compression of the discs in the spine so try to lean back slightly every now and then. If there is pain already present, try taking Aleve Gel Capsules. This will help reduce the pain and swelling you may already have.

2. You’re not doing yoga

Just by doing any form of exercise you can improve circulation and lower physical and mental stress and help promote back pain recovery. Interestingly enough, it has been proven that yoga may be the best work out for you yet.

Yoga has been found to ease lower back pain faster than any other conventional exercise. Yoga also promotes deep breathing and relaxation as well as stretching and improved overall strength.

Fix it! You can find a yoga class virtually anywhere - it’s at the gym, your local YMCA or even a studio. Before taking a yoga class, be sure to tell the instructor about your back pain so she can help you modify the moves for a workout that’s right for you. You can also try stretching on your own with a back rehab kit like this - The Cando Be-Better Targeted Rehab Kit for Lower Back.

3. You’re not eating as healthy as you should be

Research has shown that specific eating habits that are good for your heart, weight and blood sugar control are also good for your back. Research has shown that people who suffer from back pain are more likely to have clogged arteries to the spines, causing poor circulation. Healthy circulation brings nutrients to the spine and removes waste, if this does not happen, inflammation can result.

Fix it! Improve your diet for better health and well being. Make sure you’re getting more healthy meals in than unhealthy ones and, if you can, avoid the drive thru.

4. Everything but the kitchen sink is in your purse

It seems like handbags are getting bigger and bigger these days. With a bigger bag comes more stuff! The bigger the bag I have the more stuff I have to find just to fill it! When you carry a heavy tote, your shoulders tend to become imbalanced - your body elevates the shoulder carrying the bag causing your spine to be thrown off balance - doing this everyday can cause back muscles to ache over time.

Fix it! Try carrying the lightest bag possible. Your bag should not weigh more than 10% of your body weight. Try alternating the shoulder you carry your bag on from day to day, and even consider splitting your stuff between two bags v- one for each arm!