Our spine does so much for us. It is the focal point of all of the movements we make. When we walk, when we sit, when we lift objects or do anything else, our spines support out movements. As such, keeping your spine in good shape is vital to maintaining good health. There are millions of people who suffer from back pain and as one of those people, I’ve come across some things that can control that pain and often prevent it from occurring at all.
Living with back pain can be a miserable experience. You cannot do the things you normally would and simple things like tying your shoes or holding your baby are cumbersome. You do not need to live that way. The first step is to understand a little about the back so you can avoid the things that will cause pain.
Your spine consists of a series of bones; the vertebra which are arranged in a vertical row which includes three natural curves: the cervical curve (in the neck), the thoracic curve (in the middle of the back) and the lumbar curve (in the lower back).
In between the vertebrae are discs which cushion their movements and keep these bones from grinding together as we move (which is very painful). The muscles of the back are attached to your vertebrae.
So, as you can see, the back is a concert of muscle, bone and cushions all acting together. When you are at rest, a good posture is important to keep the spine in its natural position. A good posture is achieved by having the shoulders aligned with the hips. When sitting, the feet are flat to the floor, the knees at right angles. When standing, the feet should be no more than shoulder width.
It is important to have all three natural curves in the back at all times. The posture tips above will help with that. But what if you already have a problem? How can you relieve that pain?
Stretching and simple exercises are the best ways to relieve back pain. You can reduce any back pain you may already be experiencing as well as preventing more back pain through straining your back. Before you exercise or take part in any other potentially strenuous physical activity, you should warm up with some stretches and bending exercises to make sure that your back muscles are loosened up.
There are some exercises which can be very helpful to those who are currently suffering from back pain. Make sure not to overdo it with these exercises though ‘ it’s important to take it easy so as not to increase the pain you’re already in. Leg lifts and side bends are among the best exercises to relieve back pain as are forward/backward bends. Remember to keep your exercising gentle and stop at once if you experience any pain while exercising.
By warming up before exercise and maintaining good posture, you’ll usually be able to prevent back pain and even relive back pain that you’re already suffering. There are a lot of people who successfully manage to rid themselves of their back pain by simply training themselves to exhibit good posture.
Be good to your back and spine and it will be good to you for a long time to come.
Finally, whenever you’re lifting, make sure to do so with your legs instead of your back. Many serious back injuries are caused by improper lifting techniques. When you’re lifting, bend at the knee, grasp the object you want to lift and stand - this lets your legs do the lifting and protects your spine.
