Back Week will be observed from 2 to 6 September and below are some tips to help you maintain a healthy spine.
Get moving
Regular exercise such as walking, swimming and Pilates are low-impact activities that are great for the health of your spine.
Maintain a good posture at your desk
Proper office ergonomics can help your muscles and joints stay comfortable at work. An incorrect desk setup can cause you to hunch over your computer and cause aches and pains.
Ditch the sling bag
Back pain doesn’t just affect adults, but children as well. A major cause is the heavy bags they carry with them at school. Avoid using single shoulder sling bags and rather opt for a good quality rucksack with double shoulder support.
Quit smoking
Lighting up doesn’t just hurt your lungs, it can hurt your back as well. Nicotine causes the small blood vessels to constrict and can reduce the delivery of blood to the bones and soft tissue in your spine.
Manage your stress levels
Lack of sleep and increased stress levels can alter the way our brain perceives and interprets pain. It is recommended that adults aim to achieve between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. Yoga is a great way to de-stress as it involves deep breathing techniques and can also help maintain your strength and flexibility.
It is important that if you or your child is suffering with back pain that you get it accurately diagnosed by a healthcare practitioner who understands and manages back pain such as a Chiropractor, Physiotherapist or your GP.
By Dr Michael Benporath, Chiropractor, info@sportchiro.co.za, www.sportchiro.co.za.