Tips to Prevent Back Pain

Back pain is a common condition that can affect people from all walks of life. There are a variety of lifestyle factors that can increase the likelihood of back pain occurring including your posture, injury, stress or the demands of a busy modern life.

At AcuHealth Therapies we utilise acupuncture for back pain and focus on a holistic approach to managing back pain and maximising overall health. Acupuncture can assist to relieve back pain by reducing inflammation and easing muscle tension. It can also stimulate natural pain-relieving endorphins within the body.

There are also some general lifestyle tips that may help you to minimise the onset of back pain.

Practical Tips to Prevent Back Pain

Maintain good posture: Good posture relates to the positioning of your body and how your weight is distributed. Key factors are: keeping your back straight, keeping your ears shoulders and hips inline, keeping your shoulders relaxed, balancing your weight evenly and keeping your knees straight.

Stick to a consistent exercise routine: Exercising regularly including activities such as walking, swimming or specific exercises designed to strengthen your back can help to maintain muscle strength and flexibility.

Take care when lifting heavy objects: If you need to lift something heavy ensure that you bend your knees and position the object so that it is close to your body. Use your legs muscles and avoid twisting your body as this can strain muscles and ligaments in your back.

When moving the item, pivot your whole body and keep the load of the object balanced.

Check the ergonomics of your working environment and stay active: The ideal type of chair to prevent back pain is a chair with a straight back or one with low back support. Your work chair should be at an angle of approximately 110 degrees and support your lower back.

Even if your work chair is designed to prevent back pain you should ensure that you regularly get up and move about every 30 minutes or so. This can include some walking and light stretching.

Maintain a healthy weight: Additional body weight can place extra pressure on joints, ligaments and muscles, which can then develop into back pain.

If you have persistent back pain, seek help: If your back pain is ongoing with no improvement it is recommended to seek advice from a medical professional who specialises in musculoskeletal issues.

Short-term back pain issues generally starts to improve after 8 weeks so if your back pain persists beyond that timeframe it might be time to discuss the issue with your GP.

Acupuncture may be something to consider as a complimentary therapy that can work alongside modern western treatments.

To find out more about acupuncture for back pain contact us at the clinic.

0403 524 893