5 Ways to Prevent Low Back Pain
Have you or anyone you know ever suffered from Lower Back Pain?
Have you ever wondered if there was something you could do to prevent that from happening to you?!
Well, you’re in luck.. Read On!
1. Proper Work Ergonomics
I could do an entire blog on work ergonomics- which I will do in the next couple of weeks. This topic is very industry specific. If you work in a desk 40 hours per week, making sure your work space is ergonomically correct will save you in the long run! (If you’d like Dr. Jon or me to come to your workplace and do an ergonomic workshop- reach out to us!) If you are a teacher working with little ones all day long, again- we need to make sure you have tools to counter-act squatting, kneeling and looking down all day. The idea is really to do the best with the work station/environment you have.
2. Proper Lifting Form
Lift with your legs, NOT with your back! This applies in the gym and at home. Our legs/glutes/core muscles are large and strong muscle groups. When we’re lifting something- whether that be weights at the gym, 143 grocery bags (because obviously we only want to make one trip from the car!), or maybe its your toddler that you’re lifting—always always always use your legs. When we bend forward at our waist and stand back up, we put ALL of that weight on our lower back muscles. Those muscles are not designed for that kind of stress and strain! Be kind to your body 😊
3. Stretching
If you don’t move it, you lose it! This applies to range of motion and flexibility 100%. Doing simple stretches first thing in the morning as well as right before you go to bed will give you a list of benefits including >>> More flexibility, less injury, better quality of sleep, improved circulation to muscle tissue, better athletic performance. The list goes on!
4. Stay Active
Motion is incredibly important to our spine (and the rest of our body). Staying active does not have to mean spending at hour at the local CrossFit gym or local Orange Theory Fitness (Although, if you want a killer work out check out https://brookfield.orangetheoryfitness.com/ or https://www.clubpilates.com/location/brookfield/ ) Staying active can literally mean going for a nice walk around the neighborhood, or doing a session of YouTube instructed yoga, or turning up your favorite mixed CD from 2002 and dancing in your kitchen. In all honesty it’s about getting your heart rate up and maybe even breaking a sweat!
5. And most importantly, Regular Chiropractic Care
“If it’s not broken, don’t fix it” DOES NOT APPLY! Think about having that mentality with your Teeth. That would be crazy, right?? We make sure to get regular dental cleanings to keep our pearly whites nice and healthy. Shouldn’t we have the same mentality for our Spine? You know, that thing that protects your spinal cord and spinal nerves?
With that being said- If you have never seen a chiropractor pleeease reach out to us. We’d love to have you in our office to see if there is any way we can help. If you’re not local to the Brookfield/Greater Milwaukee area, I’d love to be able to recommend a great Chiropractor near you!
