Most of us experience some form of back pain at some point in our lives. Reports suggest that almost 65 million Americans have had a recent episode of back pain. Out of this population, eight percent (about 16 million) experience chronic back pain. Back pain is chronic if it lasts longer than six months. Living with chronic back pain can be unbearable. Fortunately, there are non-invasive ways of relieving chronic back pain. Here are some top-notch tips on relieving chronic back pain from our physical therapist in Olivette, Mo.
Get moving
In an era dominated by busy work schedules and sedentary working lifestyles, most seldom work out. Regardless of what your daily schedule looks like, setting some time aside to exercise is an excellent way of keeping your spine and overall body healthy. Even 30 minutes of daily exercise can make a huge difference. Exercising helps relieve chronic back pain by increasing blood flow, increasing joint strength, stability, and stimulating the release of pain-relieving hormones and neurotransmitters.
Check your posture
If you are always slouching in your chair or hunching over your laptop, then you are in danger of experiencing chronic back pain. Posture is everything when it comes to relieving chronic back pain. And the most important thing to remember is that your neck and back alignment should not induce any stresses on your spine. If you are suffering from back pain due to your posture our physical therapist in Olivette, Mo will work with you to improve your posture, ergonomics, movement, and ensure you are on the right path to recovery.
Breath in and out
Breathing exercises are excellent ways of relieving pain. Usually, when you take a deep breath, your body relaxes, and the tension around the mid and lower back reduces. It also promotes healthy blood flow, helps in restorative sleeping, and releases toxins from the body. All these processes are crucial to back pain relief.
Get a good night’s sleep
Sleep is the best painkiller. It sounds counterintuitive given how hard it can get to fall asleep when in pain. However, sleep does help optimize your body’s healing and regeneration process while also managing stress. Pay attention to your sleeping posture as well as it can aggravate your pain.
Check on your diet
Your diet can play a crucial role in aggravating or reducing inflammation. Maintaining a diet with anti-inflammatory foods, such as ginger and antioxidants can go a long way in reducing your pain.