Avoiding Back Pain in Harrogate!

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How often do you stop and think "is this the best position for my spine?", If you're anything like most of us in Harrogate, your answer may be almost never!

Until pain arrives, we just carry on with our daily routines assuming that all is good within. Anyone who has dealt with a disc injury or a trapped nerve will be well aware that these types of injuries often appear to "come out of the blue" meaning that there was no warning signs or symptoms before the pain. This can lead to the injury appearing like it was caused by a minor activity that you've done many times in the past, like unloading the dishwasher... This is rarely the case.

Whether the pain is great enough to interfere with other areas of your life or not, back pain does not come without a cost. If you are currently dealing with pain consider contacting our Chiropractors in Harrogate for more advice.

Statistics have demonstrated that more than 80% of the population will experience spinal issues at some point during their lifetime... Besides those who have had a trauma that caused the pain, there are certain criteria that will increase your likelihood of fitting into this 80%.

Below Are The Risk Factors To Take Into Account*:

Smokers Are Far Worse Off Than Non-Smokers:

Likely it comes as no surprise that smokers heal slower than their non-smoking counterparts, this is largely due to a reduction in blood circulation thought to be caused by many of the 4000 plus chemicals available in cigarettes, reduced blood flow leads to a reduced oxygen supply to all parts of your body including your spine and nervous system.

Having a Poor Sleeping Position:

Aim to support your spine throughout the night, if you need more advice on this topic considers reviewing our blog on sleeping positions.

Sitting In a Slouched Position:

Avoid slouching as much as possible, aim to have your chest up tall just like 'Superman', pin those shoulders back and ensure that your knees are slightly lower than your hips.

Avoiding a Healthy Diet And Regular Exercise:

It goes without saying that having an ideal BMI will exert less stress on your spinal column than your overweight counterpart.

Strengthening your core musculature can help prevent back pain and reduce the likelihood of a spinal misalignment occurring, due to the increased stability.

Aiming to split your plate up into thirds of protein, complex carbohydrates and vegetables will set you in the right direction.

Lifting Heavy Objects Without Much Thought:

Here are a few tips to avoid spinal injuries when lifting objects, firstly aim to lift mainly through your legs, keeping your back straight and your core braced. The closer you can get your body towards the object you are lifting the less strain it will exert on your back.

Bending Down and Twisting at the Same Time:

This is one of the easiest ways to aggravate your spine, always aim to isolate these movements away from each other at all costs!

Like all things in life, there are no guarantees that implementing all these tips will eliminate your chances of getting back pain, however, they will likely reduce the risk you face.

If you have any further questions feel free to contact Falcon Chiropractic Harrogate today!