3 Tips to Reduce Back Pain
By Virginia Laird
Have you ever experienced back pain that you thought would never go away? This is the case for many people who suffer with back pain. Even after taking pain medication, there can seem to be little relief. Chiropractors recommend small changes in habits and behavior to help reduce the pain. Along with routine trips to the chiropractor, here are tips suggested by the professionals.
- Don't cross your legs
- Put your car headrest to use
- Put down your phone
Don't Cross Your Legs
While sitting with the legs crossed may seem natural, there is nothing natural about it. Sitting in such a position can alter the natural curve of the spine. This can put pressure and stress in other areas of the back, causing pain. Chiropractors recommend sitting with both feet flat on the ground. If you are a shorter person (like myself) it is recommended to place a book or a box on the floor to help make sitting flat-footed more comfortable.
Put Your Car Headrest to Use
Cars have headrests for a reason: Use them. After a long day at work, your back and neck could be full of tension and stress. Allow the back and neck to relax while driving home by laying back on the headrest. Chiropractors suggest this technique to help release some of the built-up tension. Research suggests that leaning back on the headrest can even help a person to clear his or her mind. Most people would agree, it would be nice to get home with little to no worries about work.
Put Down Your Phone
It wasn't that many years ago that cellphones were not tied to a person's every move. Do you remember those days? People would go out or on a vacation to get away from the phone. Now, most people just carry the phone wherever they go. Chiropractors suggest putting the phone down can help combat back and neck pain. Using a phone all the time promotes bad posture. Have you ever noticed the slight leaning forward posture you have when you look at your phone? This causes stress on the neck. In this position, the head is no longer supported by the shoulders (as it should be). This can cause serious pain and even movement in the neck.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Asheville, N.C.