Back Pain, Spine Health, And Posture

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Back Pain, Spine Health, And Posture

Sunday, August 16th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

The spine is probably the single most amazing thing about your body. It supports us as we walk upright and helps us to lift objects. Keeping the spine in good shape is vital to a happy, healthy life. As a sufferer of back pain myself, I have learned a few things that may help you to relieve the pain you have or, hopefully, to avoid it altogether.

Back pain can make many of the things we take for granted an ordeal. Even everyday tasks such as tying your shoes can become excruciating when you live with back pain. Thankfully, you don’t have to live like this. It all starts with knowing more about how the spine and the back work, so you can prevent doing things which cause back pain.

Our spines are made up of a series of small bones called the vertebrae which are lined up in a row. There are three natural curves in the spine: there is the lumbar curve in the lower back, the thoracic curve in the middle of the back and the cervical curve which appears in the neck.

Between each vertebra are fluid filled discs to cushion the vertebra so they don‚Äôt rub together; very painful! Attached to the vertebra are a myriad of muscles.

So, as you can see, the back is a concert of muscle, bone and cushions all acting together. When you are at rest, a good posture is important to keep the spine in its natural position. A good posture is achieved by having the shoulders aligned with the hips. When sitting, the feet are flat to the floor, the knees at right angles. When standing, the feet should be no more than shoulder width.

By maintaining proper posture, you’ll be able to maintain the three natural curves in your spine, which is very important to preventing back pain and keeping your spine and back muscles in good shape. However, what should you do if you already suffer from back pain? If you have bad back pain, spine strength has already been compromised. What do you do?

Simple exercises are the ticket. These can help relieve pain that is already present as well as help avoid it altogether. Before any activity is undertaken, do some stretching and bending. This helps loosen the muscles and gets them ready for the coming activity. A basic warm up, like an athlete before an event.

There are some exercises which can be very helpful to those who are currently suffering from back pain. Make sure not to overdo it with these exercises though ‘ it’s important to take it easy so as not to increase the pain you’re already in. Leg lifts and side bends are among the best exercises to relieve back pain as are forward/backward bends. Remember to keep your exercising gentle and stop at once if you experience any pain while exercising.

With good posture and making a habit of warming up before physical activity, you’ll be able to prevent back pain in most cases. Many of those who suffer from back pain find that good posture is able to alleviate their back pain and allow them to resume their normal activities in short order.

If you’re good to your spine, then it will do the same for you, providing you with a lifetime of pain free, flexible mobility. Work to improve posture and your back will reward you.

Finally, whenever you’re lifting, make sure to do so with your legs instead of your back. Many serious back injuries are caused by improper lifting techniques. When you’re lifting, bend at the knee, grasp the object you want to lift and stand - this lets your legs do the lifting and protects your spine.

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