Contributing Factors to Back Pain - By: Steve Razz

Your over all fitness plays a major role in maintaining a healthy, pain free back. Having extra weight in the mid section and especially stomach area will cause unnecessary strain on your back muscles and legs. Ideally it is recommended to stay within 10 pounds of your target weight; this will indeed avoid a lot of the complications associated with strains due to forward shifts in center of gravity caused by the excess weight. It is important to maintain a healthy well rounded diet; it is also possible to be too thin and as a result having back pain due to low bone mass.

Preventative Measures

Doing exercise plays a major role in maintaining a healthy back, staying flexible, doing aerobics at least three to five times a week will definitely improve your overall fitness as well as reduce the chances of a back injury. Most Doctors and Chiropractors can provide an exercise regimen to help strengthen your back. The way you sleep can cause undue stress on your back. If you sleep on your back, try putting a pillow under your knees, this can reduce the pressure substantially. Mattress and box springs can also help prevent injuries. It is recommended to select the right mattress for your body weight, and one that provides overall support. It is not uncommon to test mattresses for a trial period for up to a month sometimes before making a purchase.

Posture

Not maintaining good posture can strain muscles and cause damage to your spine. Over time improper posture leads to complications to lower and mid back and sometime even your neck.

Tips:

Always remember to:

- When standing, especially for long periods of time, Keep one foot forward with your knees slightly bent. This will take pressure off your lower back.

- When sitting, always sit with your hips slightly higher than your knees.

- When reaching for something above your head, always use a step stool. Never strain your arms and back while trying to reach especially above your head.

- When lifting, bend at the knees and keep your back straight at all times. Keep the weight close to your body. Balance the weight so that each side of your body distributes the load as evenly as possible. At all cost, avoid twisting when lifting and always try to push an object if possible before trying to pull the object.

Surgery

Is surgery the answer? There really isn't a simple answer to this. Depending on how severe the chronic pain is and how it is affecting your overall quality of life, surgery may be the answer. Keep in mind there are many options before jumping into surgery, physical therapy, pain and alternative medications all can help reduce pain. A study showed that only 1% of the people who suffer from chronic back pain really need surgery, all others can benefit from this kind of approach.

Always seek the advice from a professional before making any decisions that can affect your health. Back problems can be life long, the right Doctor can put you on the right path to recovery.

About the Author

Steve enjoys writing articles on topics he has a passion for. Please check out his latest website at http://enamelrings.org which helps people find the best Enamel Rings and information they are looking for when searching for enamel jewelery

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Steve-Razz/106467

Additional Articles From - Home | Health & fitness | Back pain