It’s easy to see why people want to steer clear of lower back pain, with all of its debilitating effects. Yet, almost everyone will experience it at some point during their lives. To keep the pain at bay, give some of these tips a try.

Improving Your Posture

Rethinking your posture is much easier said than done, especially if slouching has become second nature for you. One of the best places to improve your posture is in your chair. More and more Americans are spending vast quantities of time sitting at home and work. In order to avoid back pain, it is essential to maintain a proper sitting posture. If you have the chance to choose your seat, find one that feels comfortable and provides support for your lower back and preferably matches the curve of your spine. Failing that, you can roll up a towel and tuck it behind the small of your back to give your spine support. Try to keep your feet flat on the floor as you’re sitting, and be sure to change positions every half-hour or so.

When standing, try to maintain good posture by keeping your spine in line and your pelvis in a neutral position, without rotating it forward or backward. If you find yourself standing for a long time, shift your weight onto one foot and place the other atop a footstool or some similarly elevated object to relieve the strain on your back.

You can even try improving your posture while sleeping. After all, people spend hours every day asleep, sometimes in positions that are detrimental to their spines. One of the most widely recommended sleeping positions for preventing back pain is sleeping on your side, with a pillow between your knees to help keep your spine in line throughout the night. Those who prefer to sleep on their backs can instead tuck a pillow under their knees for a better sleeping position.

Strengthening Your Back through Exercise

Bad posture isn’t the only cause of back pain; many other factors can contribute to the problem. For example, being overweight can place a tremendous strain on your back muscles. If you’re carrying around excess weight, shedding those extra pounds will reduce your chances of developing back pain. Even if you’re not overweight, you may want to commit to a regular routine of low-impact aerobic exercise to strengthen your back muscles. Swimming is generally considered an ideal choice for almost anyone because it is low-impact and utilizes many groups of muscles at once. In addition to aerobic exercises, you can integrate some stretches into your daily routine to make your body more flexible, and add some core exercises to strengthen the deep abdominal muscles that stabilize the spine. That said, you should always check with your physician to see which types of exercises would best suit your body and fitness level.

For further advice on preventing back pain, you can always talk with your physician to obtain information that is tailored to your needs.

Peg Smith is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Ms. Smith is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to health.

Peg Smith is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Ms. Smith is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to health. http://www.healthgrades.com/group-directory/pennsylvania-pa/wayne/laser-spine-institute-9961d422

Author Bio: Peg Smith is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Ms. Smith is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to health.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: back pain, back pain prevention, pain prevention, lower back pain