Learn all about how to boost the health of your back in our guide below.
Stretch at work
Many of us do little physical movement at work, especially if we are stuck behind a desk for 8-9 hours a day. Unfortunately, this can play havoc with our backs. Indeed, to improve back health it is important to do two things.
The first of these is to build in regular stretching exercises throughout our day, something that stops the back and other parts of the body from getting locked into particular positions which can add excess strain and cause unnecessary wear.
The second thing we need to do is to regularly assess and change our posture when needed. Indeed, sitting correctly, and having our desk, keyboard and computer screen at the correct height is vital to obtaining the correct posture. That is why you should always assess your workstation for ergonomics and make changes when necessary.
See a chiropractor
Another way that we can improve the health of our backs is to make an appointment with a chiropractor. This is because chiropractors are specialists that focus on making sure your back and other parts of your body are properly aligned.
Indeed, a chiropractor can help relieve pain and boost function without the use of medication or surgery. Something that can be very helpful for many people, especially if they have already been down other treatment routes before without success.
Change your diet
Few people realize that a change in your diet can do a great deal to improve back health. This theory is based on the idea that some foods can trigger inflammation in the body, while others can help reduce it.
In particular, any foodstuffs that are associated with a rise in cortisol, the stress hormone are believed to make pain, including back pain worse. This is because they cause inflammation of the muscles and tissues. Such foods include refined sugar and carbs, alcohol, gluten, red meat, and dairy.
However, foods such as almonds, kale, garlic, and fatty fish are known to have an inflammatory effect on the body. Something that means maximizing your intake of these, while reducing your consumption of inflammatory food may help to reduce back pain.
Choose the right clothing
Another less known strategy for improving the health of your back is to make sure you are picking the right kind of things to wear. It is not so much about pieces like jumpers or trousers though, but more about items like bags and shoes.
The reason for this is that the shoes we wear or the bags we carry can have a significant impact on our posture and so on the health of our back. For example, shoes that are too high, or unsupportive will impact the way they stand or walk which can put undue stress on our back muscles.
Additionally, bags that are carried on only one side of the body, can cause a whole range of problems such as uneven posture, strained, and even trapped nerves in the back. That is why we must choose a well-balanced bag that can be carried on the back rather than on one side.
