If you suffer from regular back pain, you will not need to be told how difficult it can be to
get on with your daily life without feeling burdened and distracted by the aches and pains
you are experiencing.
There are a number of things you can do to alleviate the pain, including finding the most
effective mattress to relieve back pain, so that you can get as much relief a possible in your
battle with such a common but troublesome condition.
Watch Your Weight
Sometimes when you are looking for a natural solution to something like back pain, you
have to look at other aspects of your lifestyle and see how they might be having an impact
on your physical health.
A poor diet and being overweight can cause you to suffer from painful joints and back pain.
The general observation is that the slimmer you are, the less pressure you are putting on your
joints, which means that you are less likely to suffer from back problems.
Watching your weight and maintaining a healthy and balanced diet will often improve your
overall well being and it will also help you to reduce or avoid the prospect of back pain.
Exercise is Good
Another no-brainer is having a regular exercise routine.
Plenty of yoga and stretching is always a good idea cardiovascular as well as strength exercises
are also likely to prove beneficial in not only making your feel better altogether, but by keeping
your back strong and tight with regular exercise, you will be helping yourself to avoid back pain.
Think About Your Posture
There are plenty of us who spend a lot of the day working at a desk or looking down at a phone
or computer screen.
It is all too easy to adopt a poor posture and slump your shoulders without even thinking about
it, but poor posture can be a significant factor in creating back pain and subsequent problems
with your spine.
Try to sit as upright as possible with your ears over your shoulders and your shoulders in a
position where they are in line over your hips and ankles.
So many of us have adopted a head-forward posture as a natural position when sitting down
but leaning your head forward or having slumped shoulders for several hours a day, will have
consequences on your back and will pull on your back, leading to a painful reaction to this less
than natural posture.
Invest in Good Footwear
If you have a favorite pair of shoes which you can’t stop wearing even though the soles are a
bit worn, you are increasing your odds of experiencing back pain.
High-heeled shoes are an obvious poor choice for anyone with back problems, but even a pair
of flat shoes can be damaging if the soles are worn and are subtly adjusting your gait so that
your back is put under undue pressure.
Ditch those old shoes if they are causing you to adjust your stance or giving you foot pain.
Driving and Sleeping
Two activities we tend to do a lot of and they can have an impact on back pain if you don’t
achieve the right posture and level of support.
When you are driving, try to ensure that your lower back received the correct level of support.
Simple things like making sure your wing mirrors are correctly adjusted so you don’t have to
twist your spine and checking to see that your feet are square with the pedals, will all help to
avoid unnecessary or undue pressure on your back muscles.
A fair part of our life is spent sleeping so you need to be sure that you get a mattress which
gives you the right level of support.
Your mattress needs to be firm enough to provide support for your whole body while keeping
your spine straight and supporting the weight of your buttocks and shoulders.
It is definitely worth taking the time to find the right mattress if you are serious about tackling
back pain.
Think Before You Lift
One of the most common causes of immediate back pain and damage is when you lift or carry
a heavy object incorrectly.
Always take a moment to think about what you are about to lift and whether you are going to be
able to manage it and if you are being asked to do lifting or carrying tasks at work, make sure you
get the proper training and learn how to avoid injury.
There are so many ways to avoid or reduce back pain, so take a look at ways you can reduce your
risk of suffering from this common complaint.
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About the Author
Ted Wilson started working in the orthopedic industry in 1982 in Portland, OR and was involved in several health-related initiatives nationwide until 1998, when after a car accident, Ted started to suffer from chronic back pain and focused his attention on people suffering from the same conditions. Among other things, Ted and his team run a successful website, www.heavydutytools.org, independently reviewing beds and mattresses for the public.
Are you or a loved one suffering from back pain?
What are your tips for preventing or relieving back pain?
Share your thoughts and comments with us.
These are awesome points. I really have to watch my posture. I have lately became more intentional. I observe people that are humped over, possibly not by choice, but it made me very aware of my own posture.
Hi Betty,
Yes, my husband suffers from back pain and he has had to make sure to use supportive pillows and better posture to alleviate pain.
Love! Pinned and tweeted! Thank you so much for sharing this with us at our linky party. We hope to see you next Monday @ 7 because we can’t wait to see your new creations! Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls
Great advice – thank you for sharing on Pin Worthy Wednesday