Avoid These Bad Habits If You Have Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is a common type of pain that many people experience. While you may be getting treatment from a doctor or chiropractor, there may be even more you can do. The following bad habits can exacerbate your back pain, so it is important to avoid them.

Remaining Sedentary

While it can be difficult to get regular exercise when you are struggling with lower back pain, it is still important to keep moving. Talk to your doctor about different ways to relieve your pain so that you can get up and start moving around. The more sedentary you are, the stiffer your back may become, eventually leading to more inflammation and pain. Start slow by walking for a few minutes at a time, or taking the stairs at work instead of the elevator. If you have severe pain, try swimming a few days a week to get your body moving.

Not Improving Your Posture

It is never too late to improve your posture and reduce the negative effects of having bad posture. When you have good posture, you reduce the overall stress put on your lower and middle back, which can do wonders for the amount of back pain you experience. If you don't think you have good posture at work, have someone else look at you while sitting in your chair. They can help you to adjust your chair so that when you are sitting in it, you have no choice but to sit up straight. Also practice having good posture at home when you are sitting on the couch or while you are standing and walking.

Sitting in the Same Position

Even if you get regular exercise and perfect your posture, sitting in the same position for long stretches of time is still not a good idea. Try to remember to stand, move around, stretch your legs, and go for walks. When your back remains in that same position, the muscles begin to weaken due to lack of movement, which can cause more pain as the day goes on. Set your timer if you need a reminder that you need to get out of your chair or at least move from the current position.

Sleeping on an Old Mattress

Your bed might be doing more damage than good, even if you find some relief while laying down. If you have an old mattress that doesn't offer much support, slouches, or feels lumpy, it is probably damaging your lower back and worsening the pain. A good way to tell is by noticing your pain when you get up in the morning. If the worst pain is when getting out of bed, your mattress might be to blame.

Contact a center like Pain Relief Center to learn more.