Many of us suffer with chronic back pain. Those who have back pain you know what a toll it can take on one’s life and lifestyle. Some people have a good experience when they seek help from a medical professional, such as an orthopedic surgeon or a chiropractor. Others suffer for years. If you are a chronic sufferer, here are a few things that could help you more than you would believe possible.
Shoes
There is usually no need to buy an expensive orthotic insert for your shoes. Often times, that back problem that starts in your feet and is transmitted up into the back, because of poor bodily alignment. Whether you wear the most expensive name brand athletic shoes or a pair of Toms or Converse, just make sure that you are comfortable and stable. Avoid high heels whenever possible.
When you can, go barefoot or wear minimalist shoes, such as Vibram Fivefingers. This practice will allow your toes to be used for balance and agility. If you are not used to this, you will quickly discover muscles in your feet and calves that you didn’t know where there. This new lower body strength can help with gait problems and body alignment.
Bed
A good night sleep is essential to muscle repair and proper hormones and brain chemical balance. All these are needed to fend off back pain. Ditch that cheap mattress and invest in a good quality mattress. You spend about ⅓ of your life in bed, so it should be an important priority. If you can not afford a top-of-the-line bed, try a memory foam topper for your current bed. They usually come in depths of 2” to 12” thick. You can buy them inexpensively online. They ship highly compressed. When you open the package they will take several hours to decompress to a normal state.
Stay Vertical
We all sit too much these days. The average person spends much of their day sitting and watching TV or sitting at a desk on the computer. Take breaks and get up and walk around at least every 2 hours. If you normally work sitting down, look for ways to do some of your work standing, such as buying a standing desk.
Strength Training
Many times pain persists after an injury simply because muscles got weak during recovery, then were not properly rehabilitated. Weight lifting, resistance training or bodyweight training can help you work through healing old damage. It can even relieve pinched nerves, by restoring correct mechanical alignment and function.
Follow these tips and you will find that it is possible to be in less pain.
