The spine is, literally, the backbone of your body. It’s responsible for how you walk, sit, lay, and is involved in essentially every movement that you make throughout the course of your regular day. So, when your spine is in pain, it can be absolutely crippling. It’s estimated that roughly 80 percent of Americans suffer or will suffer at some point from some sort of pain stemming from the spine. It’s also one of the most costly pains, both fiscally and physically, if not maintained properly. Here are some ways that you can reduce that nagging spine pain.
While a new mattress can be a bit on the expensive side, it’s one of the best investments you can make for yourself. While the more inexpensive mattresses may be appealing at first, spending a little more on a comfortable, yet firm mattress allows you to get the rest you need and the support that your spine needs. After investing in a new mattress, there are also certain sleep positions that help relieve your spine pain. Try sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees. This will keep the spine in a neutral and relaxed position. If you can’t sleep on your side, try sleeping on your back with a pillow tucked under your knees, which has the same effect.
Everybody slouches from time to time, especially if you’re working in an office or at a computer, but not everybody realizes that it could be one of the sources of your back pain. Having poor posture can put a lot of stress on your spine as it bears the full weight of the rest of your body. When sitting, try to sit with your back being supported by the chair, feet flat, with your shoulders relaxed. If the chair doesn’t offer enough lower back support for you to do this comfortably, try putting a pillow or balled up sweater behind you to provide lumbar support. This will take some of the stress off of your spine and evenly distribute it around your body.
When suffering from spine pain, it can be difficult to even think about walking, let alone exercising. You may think that you need bed rest, and in some cases that may be true, but it is far from the long-term solution. One of the best solutions for chronic back pain is exercising to make the muscles around the spine stronger to help support it. If you’re experiencing pain, try starting with a light exercise such as going for a walk. Swimming is also a great exercise for back pain as the water helps take some of the weight off of the bones. If this seems to be helping, try easing into some yoga or aerobic exercises to help strengthen your back and core muscles. It’s also a good idea to consult with an expert before trying any strenuous exercises that may only agitate your spine further.
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Physical therapists are experts when it comes to spine pain and can help develop an individualized treatment plan that can help alleviate your pain and find alternatives to other more invasive procedures. A physical therapist can teach you how to properly sit, stand, walk, and move in a way that keeps your spine in proper alignment. They can also provide you with massage techniques, exercises, and lifestyle changes that help strengthen your core and back muscles to give your spine the help that it desperately needs. More times than not, patients leave physical therapy stronger, more flexible, and with higher muscular endurance, all of which can remedy your nagging spine pain. It may be a lengthy process, but a physical therapist will help you alleviate not only your short-term spine pain, but help you prevent future pain as well.
Physical therapy can often times be the best route to remedy your spine pain, and there is no group of professionals more qualified than our team at IMPACT Physical Therapy. With convenient locations near Chicago, we offer the highest quality in physical therapy and are committed to helping you take your life back from the nuisance that is back pain. Our stellar team will help develop a plan of action conducive to your lifestyle and schedule to get you stronger and happier. We also offer cutting edge technology and services to serve our patients with speed and precision. Contact us today with any questions you may have or to set up your first appointment. Don’t spend another day in bed wishing your back pain away, come take the first step to better steps at IMPACT Physical Therapy.
