Far too often, back pain becomes synonymous with age. People think it’s a natural occurrence, and there isn’t much they can do to prevent it. However, this isn’t the case. Certain habits increase your risk of pain. By understanding them, you can take measures to reduce your likelihood of chronic back pain as you age. At Premier Chiropractic Center, serving Bessemer, AL, and the nearby region, we’d like to shed some light on this subject and help the community remain as pain-free as possible.
Your Diet
For one, excess weight places pressure on the soft tissue, vertebrae, and discs in your back. This is just a recipe for back pain in the future since it increases your chances of developing degenerative disc disease, fibromyalgia, and various other conditions that can affect your back.
Additionally, your body needs certain nutrients for optimal nervous and musculoskeletal function, such as B12. A vitamin D deficiency is known to contribute to back pain as well, among others.
A poor diet may also cause an increase of inflammation throughout your body, which increases pain.
Your Posture
Poor posture ranks as one of the leading factors of back pain. It’s common for someone to not even know they have poor posture, especially while sleeping or sitting. As a general rule, you need to sit and stand up straight so your hips and back remain aligned. Your shoulders should be down and slightly backward. In addition, you should never slouch or hunch over your cell phone or tablet. When you partake in these habits, you place excess pressure on your soft tissue.
Your Footwear
Whether you wear them to run errands in or incorporate them into your work attire frequently, high heels are notorious for throwing your body’s natural alignment off. As a result, you feel it in your knees and back.
If you run or participate in any other physical activity, you need to wear sneakers that fit you properly and provide enough arch support. When you wear improper footwear during physical activity, you increase stress on your feet, ankles, and legs. Ultimately, this can lead to a domino effect that stresses your back. Skip bargain shopping and focus on comfort and functionality.
Your Mattress
You may try to save money by purchasing a low-quality mattress. On the other hand, you may not be replacing your mattress frequently enough. And a worn mattress doesn’t pride the proper support for your spine.
In general, you need to replace your mattress every six to eight years, as noted by the Sleep Foundation.
When you shop for a mattress, keep the ideal firmness of six to eight in mind. You want a comfortable one that still provides adequate lumbar support.
Your Sleep Position
Maybe you have a go-to-sleep position that you must sleep in each might. Or maybe you’re a toss-and-turner who chooses a position after several attempts to find the right one. Perhaps you fall in between there. No matter your position habits, you should fall asleep in a position that supports your spine and allows it to remain in its natural alignment. If you’re not, you’re placing pressure on your back, especially the lumbar region.
You Don’t See a Chiropractor
Chiropractors aren’t just for when you’re injured or have chronic pain. These practitioners provide care to help you avoid back problems in the future through exercises, spinal adjustments, and lifestyle advice. Not to mention, if you have back pain already, a chiropractor can intervene early to prevent further damage and optimize your recovery.
Therefore, if you haven’t thought of seeing a chiropractor, it might be time to start.
At Premier Chiropractic Center, serving Bessemer, AL, and the general vicinity, we believe prevention is crucial in the war against back pain. Through lifestyle habit changes and the assistance of a chiropractor, you can live a life without the added stress of back pain and discomfort.
Book an appointment with us today by calling 205-519-4024. We also offer the option of a convenient online form.
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