4 Ways That You Can Reduce Your Back Pain
If you suffer from chronic or irregular back pain, you know how much it can impact your quality of life.
Back pain can stem from several things ranging from the shoes that you wear to the way that you sit. If you take the time to learn about these issues, you’ll be one step closer to being “back” to normal.
1. Improve Your Footwear
The first step in dealing with back pain is assessing the quality of your footwear. If your wardrobe is filled with shoes that don’t have good insoles or offer ample arch support, you should replace them with orthopedic shoes immediately.
There is no denying that orthopedic shoes are good for the sole — this is because they offer a wide variety of pain-relieving properties, including incomparable arch support. You can find high-quality orthopedic footwear at a foot clinic near you.
2. Wear Orthotic Insoles
If you want to see results quickly, you need to slide a pair of orthotic inserts into your new footwear. These insoles are the perfect addition to any shoe. And the best part is, you can have them custom-made to match the exact size and shape of your feet.
3. Change Your Sleeping Position
Did you know that the way you sleep has a major impact on your back? If you sleep in an awkward position, you’re going to end up stiff and sore in the morning. If you pick a healthy sleeping position, you’re going to wake up feeling refreshed.
Side-sleepers should lie with their knees bent up towards their chest. This will minimize the amount of tension and strain felt in the back.
Back-sleepers should lie with a pillow underneath their knees or upper legs. For even more relief, they can put a thin pillow underneath their lower back.
Stomach-sleeping can negatively impact your back. It forces your spine to remain in an unnatural position for a long period. If you need to sleep on your stomach, you should try keeping a pillow beneath your hips. This provides extra lumbar support so you don’t wake up with any aches and pains.
4. Fix Your Posture
If you spend the majority of your time sitting at a desk, you’re bound to face some back pain in the near future. You need to adjust your posture. Make sure that you’re sitting with your back straight. Keep your shoulders square and avoid resting your head on your hand. Look straight ahead. If your computer is forcing you to tilt your head down, raise your desk or place the computer on a higher platform.
If your back still feels tight at the end of the day, you can try out a variety of back exercises. Strengthening your core and back muscles can make it easier to maintain a healthy posture without even trying.
Sometimes a pain killer and an appointment with a masseuse isn’t enough to ease your back pain. You have to figure out what’s causing it and fix the problem. Once you improve your footwear, change your sleep position and correct your posture, you’re sure to feel better.