Sitting Posture

Simple Lifestyle Changes You Can Make To Reduce Back Pain

Back pain can hinder us from taking part in the fun activities we love and can also interrupt our day to day life. However, relatively small changes to your routine and overall lifestyle can make a huge impact on your spine health! Outlined below are 6 lifestyle changes you can make to start the New Year off right. 1. Exercise more carefully Staying healthy overall includes the health of the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that support your spine. By monitoring these key areas you can minimize painful flare-ups. When exercising and lifting weights, be conscious of how you lift: always use the power of your legs and keep your back straight, and stretch before any strenuous physical activity. Consider working closely with a personal trainer, physical therapist, or doctor to create a regular stretching program. 2. Supplement your diet This may come as no surprise, but it’s important to get enough vitamin D, be it through sun exposure or a supplement. Vitamin D helps keep your bones, including your spine, healthy and strong. Additionally, remember to drink plenty of water, as doing so can enhance the height of your intervertebral disks. Did you know your body is composed mostly of

January 6, 2015

Back Pain Tops List of Workplace Injuries

Even in today’s world where so many of us spend our days at a desk, back injuries are still the most common workplace injuries, according to a survey from U.S. Healthworks. Of course, outdoor workers and those who must regularly lift heavy objects are the first to be hurt, but those who don’t lift anything heavier than a file folder in our 9-to-5 are at risk as well. If you work does happen to be physically demanding, it doesn’t mean you have to live with chronic back pain; there are things you can do to prevent injuries: Make sure you’re lifting carefully. Take extra care when lifting items that are either below knee level or above shoulder height, as that reach can put added strain on your back. Do your best to avoid lifting things placed on the floor to reduce strain ot the lumbar spine. Remember to bend your knees as you lift and take a break to stretch at least once an hour. Avoid twisting as you lift heavy objects. However, if you must turn, move your feet so you don’t wrench the muscles of the back. If you have to climb stairs, ladder or other structure with

September 16, 2014

Bad Posture and Back Pain in Children

I can’t stress enough the importance of good posture, and that’s especially true for kids. It’s not just that it makes them look and feel more alert and prepared; bad posture in childhood and adolescence can mean back pain in adulthood. Some doctors report seeing children as young as seven years old with back problems. A major part of the problem is the ways in which our kids learn and relax. Backpacks are heavier than ever, and the chairs most schools provide make good posture very difficult to achieve. Backward sloping chairs mean students have to curve their spines forward to write on desks. Plus, all that recreational time spent hunched over a laptop, PlayStation, or iPad means young backs likely aren’t getting the support they need outside of the classroom, either. There are things parents can do (beyond yelling) so slouchy kids don’t grow into suffering adults. Gentle reminders. Being conscious of good posture is the first step to maintaining it. Your kids don’t want to hear it and you may get sick of saying it, but this is where it begins. Make breaks a priority. We’ve all become accustomed to sitting for long periods of time, but

September 9, 2014

5 Ways to Avoid Back Pain at Work

When our grandparents worked on farms or in factories, every day posed the risk of serious injury. We think we’ve come a long way, but have you considered the harm you could be doing to your body by sitting at a desk for eight or more hours a day? Humans weren’t designed to be sedentary, but today many of us work in situations that require hours of sitting before a computer, being stationary for at least 50% of the day. With all of this sitting, chances are that many of us aren’t maintaining good posture throughout the day, a bad habit that could lead to lower back pain, as well as other issues such as circulatory problems, gastrointestinal problems, and even depression. Here are some ways to combat poor posture and back pain at work: Get up and walk around – Short walks will not only increase circulation and realign your spine but will be a nice way to break up a long work day. Studies show that taking short breaks can help improve focus, so don’t just do it for your health but for productivity, too! You can even set an alarm on your phone to remind you to

August 20, 2014

Improve Your Posture in Just One Post

Practicing good posture is integral to proper spine alignment and can help strengthen core muscles. We all know how important it is to sit tall, but it’s so easy to get a little too comfortable and sink down into a slouch. I’ve found that as soon as I start talking about posture, I immediately see my patients start sitting up straighter and practice their best posture skills. I can bet that many of you who are reading this are starting to sit a little straighter than you did before! Here are five simple tips to improve your posture, and maintaining it long after you’ve finished reading this post. 1. Sit tall, but relaxed: As you straighten up, be sure not to overextend your back. To maintain the position, your back should be straight, with your shoulders and knees relaxed. Attempting to overarch the back can be just as bad as slouching! 2. Work those abs: Keep your core engaged as you adjust your posture. Keeping your abs pulled in tight as you sit at a computer is one way to strengthen core muscles, which can help reduce minor back pain! 3. Raise your screen: As you sit at your computer,

May 13, 2014

More Content | Blog

Simple Lifestyle Changes You Can Make To Reduce Back Pain

Back Pain Tops List of Workplace Injuries

Bad Posture and Back Pain in Children

5 Ways to Avoid Back Pain at Work

Improve Your Posture in Just One Post