Back pain affects 80% of adults at some point in their lives. If you’ve been struggling with chronic back pain, getting relief is likely a top priority for you.
Whether your chronic back pain is mild or severe, Anand Shah, MD, Mehul Taylor, MD, Adam Amir, DO, and our team of physical therapists at Valley Orthopedic Institute in Palmdale and Ridgecrest, California, wants you to know that pain relief is possible.
In order to reduce chronic back pain, there are likely some habits you need to eliminate and some new ones you need to implement. So, in this month’s blog, we’re discussing three strategies you can use to decrease pain and increase mobility.
Even if your back pain is fairly minor, it may still impact your ability to move with ease, which can make it difficult to want to move around and exercise. However, the more sedentary you are, the worse your back pain can become.
If you have significant pain, don’t be afraid to keep things light. Try a brisk walk or lifting some light weights. It’s important to take note of your limits, though. In cases of exercise-induced back pain or injuries, steer clear of those exercises and take things slow.
Yoga and other at-home stretching routines are helpful for keeping your spine and back muscles loose and tension-free while simultaneously strengthening your core, both of which are effective for reducing pain.
You can see our team for regular physical therapy to strengthen your core and stretch out your back, and we can also provide you with a list of exercises to perform at home.
When you’re stressed, you likely don’t realize how much tension you put on the muscles in your neck, shoulders, and back. If you’re stressed often, this continual muscle tension can lead to perpetual back pain. Even though eliminating stress completely isn’t always possible, it’s still important to recognize when you’re stressed and work to relax your body intentionally.
We recommend trying these mindful ways of connecting with your body and relaxing it:
Taking the time to regularly practice these techniques can relax your mind and body and hopefully provide some pain relief as a result.
Not practicing proper posture while sitting at your desk and staring at a computer screen can take a toll on your spine and back muscles and lead to back pain. If you typically sit hunched over or regularly lean forward to read your computer screen clearly, it’s likely contributing to your back pain.
To protect your back and provide relief, practice better posture by keeping your shoulders and hip aligned, setting your computer screen at eye level, and keeping both feet on the floor with your knees bent at right angles.
If physical therapy and these other healthy habits aren’t providing necessary pain relief, your chronic back pain may need some additional medical interventions. To schedule an appointment for expert-level diagnosis and treatment, simply call 661-949-8643 or use our online booking feature today.
