Prevent and Relieve Back Pain with These Simple Tips

Back pain is a health problem that affects many people today. According to statistics from the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), almost 31 million Americans now experience low back pain at any given time. Fifty percent of working adults say that they encounter this problem, which is one of the most common reasons for missed work. The good news is that back pain is completely preventable or curable, as long as you change certain lifestyle habits that may be causing it. Here are a few simple tips you should try to prevent back pain: • Make sure you stretch before any strenuous physical activity. It is also a good idea to have a daily stretching routine, such as active isolated stretching. • Avoid slouching when sitting or standing. • Make sure you sit in ergonomic chairs or car seats that have good lumbar support. • When sitting for prolonged periods of time, try switching positions often, stretching, or walking around periodically to relieve tension. • Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes. • Refrain from bending over without supporting your back. • Control your weight. • Quit smoking, as it reduces blood flow to your lower spine, causing the spinal discs to degenerate. • When lifting any heavy object, make sure to keep your back straight. rnIf you're already suffering from back pain, though, don't worry. There are effective techniques that can provide back pain relief. These strategies do not require the use of pharmaceutical drugs or painkillers, which may actually have more severe effects on your health. One strategy you can try is neuro-structural integration technique (NST). This is a gentle and non-invasive technique that stimulates your body's reflexes. It is safe for everyone, from highly trained athletes to newborns, pregnant women, and the elderly. NST requires you to do simple movements that affect your muscles, nerves, and connective tissues, helping your neuromuscular system to "reset" all related tension levels. This promotes natural self-healing in your body, and can have profound and lasting results. People usually see the effects within two or three sessions. Getting a massage is another effective technique to help relieve back pain, especially if the pain is caused by stress. A massage helps ease your pain and anxiety by releasing endorphins that can induce relaxation, relieve pain, and reduce levels of stress hormones, such as noradrenaline and cortisol. A good massage can help reverse the damaging effects of stress by slowing your heart rate, metabolism, respiration, and lowering your raised blood pressure. It can also ease tense and knotted muscles and improve flexibility and mobility.