Leeds chiropractor Alison Eaves at Revive Chiropractic is jumping on the New Year Resolution bandwagon with suggestions on how to have a healthy back in the 2013. Whilst some back pain is unavoidable, there is often lots that can be done to prevent it, or at least reduce the how bad the pain is and how often it hurts. Guess what visiting a chiropractor is not just about treatment, it includes advice and help on improving your lifestyle to better manage back pain.
So how do I make my back pain better?
1) Think of your spinal health as a priority.
Your spine is important and you must take care to look after it. Spinal degeneration is a natural part of ageing and begins in our early 20’s and so don’t just think of back problems as affecting older people. We all need to look after our spine and treatment from a chiropractor can help.
2)Think of your spinal heath from an early age and this means your children as well
By the time we reach our late teens a lot of poor postural habits have become learned behaviour, that is they become â€normal†and it becomes more and more difficult to change. Encouraging good posture, good spinal strength and good spinal flexibility can start at any age but the earlier it starts the better because it encourages good habits that can last a lifetime.
3) Be careful of your posture whilst at work or studying
In today’s modern world it is almost impossible to avoid being sedentary or sat at a computer for at least some part of the day. If you have to be seated then make sure you have a chair with good lumbar support (a rolled up hand towel is good for improvising. You should place it horizontally in the natural hollow at the base of the spine. See photo).
4) Take regular breaks from a seated position
Even if it is just for 30 seconds or so, make sure you get up out of the chair and actually move. This stimulates blood flow and flow of fluid into and out the intervertebral discs. More importantly it keeps the muscles active and helps to prevent long term shortening of certain muscles in your back that can start to cause pain if they remain tight.
5) Don’t spend your spare time glued to an ipad, laptop or mobile phone
Tempting as it may be to spend the evening using electronic devices, unfortunately it just adds to the problem of back pain. Put it down and get out for a walk or some other regular form of exercise.
6) Think about your spinal health every day
It is only by thinking about postural habits every day that you will slowly start to make the necessary changes to help reduce your back pain.
So don’t let your back pain become another one of those forgotten resolutions, seize the opportunity to make the changes. Call Revive Chiropractic in Leeds today on 07828 686026 and make an appointment. Chiropractor Alison Eaves will work with you to help you r back pain by reducing pain, increasing flexibility and then make the specific lifestyle changes for you that will help you to stay pain free.
