Back Pain, Spine Strength, and Good Posture

The spine is one of the most important parts of our bodies and also one of the least appreciated. Your spine supports you as you walk, sit, lift things and almost every other activity you may engage in over the course of your life. Enjoying a healthy life is only possible when you keep your spine in good shape. As one of the many millions of people worldwide who suffers from back pain, I’ve learned some ways to keep the pain under control and avoid it entirely in many cases.

Living with back pain can be a miserable experience. You cannot do the things you normally would and simple things like tying your shoes or holding your baby are cumbersome. You do not need to live that way. The first step is to understand a little about the back so you can avoid the things that will cause pain.

Your spine consists of a series of bones; the vertebra which are arranged in a vertical row which includes three natural curves: the cervical curve (in the neck), the thoracic curve (in the middle of the back) and the lumbar curve (in the lower back).

Between each vertebra are fluid filled discs to cushion the vertebra so they dont rub together; very painful! Attached to the vertebra are a myriad of muscles.

So, as you can see, the back is a concert of muscle, bone and cushions all acting together. When you are at rest, a good posture is important to keep the spine in its natural position. A good posture is achieved by having the shoulders aligned with the hips. When sitting, the feet are flat to the floor, the knees at right angles. When standing, the feet should be no more than shoulder width.

By maintaining proper posture, you’ll be able to maintain the three natural curves in your spine, which is very important to preventing back pain and keeping your spine and back muscles in good shape. However, what should you do if you already suffer from back pain?

Stretching and simple exercises are the best ways to relieve back pain. You can reduce any back pain you may already be experiencing as well as preventing more back pain through straining your back. Before you exercise or take part in any other potentially strenuous physical activity, you should warm up with some stretches and bending exercises to make sure that your back muscles are loosened up.

If you are already in pain, there are exercises you can do, like that above, but they need to be done carefully and not overdone. Leg lifts are great for this and so are side bends and forward/backward bends. Remember, though, that if it hurts, STOP IMMEDIATELY!

By warming up before exercise and maintaining good posture, you’ll usually be able to prevent back pain and even relive back pain that you’re already suffering. There are a lot of people who successfully manage to rid themselves of their back pain by simply training themselves to exhibit good posture.

If you’re good to your spine, then it will do the same for you, providing you with a lifetime of pain free, flexible mobility.

Finally, whenever you’re lifting, make sure to do so with your legs instead of your back. Many serious back injuries are caused by improper lifting techniques. When you’re lifting, bend at the knee, grasp the object you want to lift and stand – this lets your legs do the lifting and protects your spine.

Tag: back pain spine

Category: Back Pain