Back pain can be caused by a variety of factors and may even be treated with surgery. There are steps that you can take to reduce wear and tear on your spine, so you can prevent severe pain or discomfort. This article will discuss the steps that you can take to keep your spine strong and healthy.
Let Your Spine Rest Fully While You Sleep
Sleeping on a mattress that sags or doesn’t provide good support for your spine in other ways, will damage it over time. Choose a mattress that’s firm enough to keep your entire back naturally aligned. This is something that you should do right throughout your life in order to keep your spine healthy.
Your spine should be aligned while you sleep. If you sleep on your back, you can use a pillow under your knees to decrease stress on your back. If you prefer to sleep on your side, a pillow can be placed between your knees to achieve the same effect. A neck pillow can alleviate strain on your cervical spine.
Wear Shoes That Protect Your Spine
Your spine has discs between the vertebrae and these absorb shock while you run, jump or walk. If you constantly wear shoes that don’t absorb shock well, a lot of force will be transferred to your spine and this causes damage to your discs with every step you take.
Your shoes should fit the back of your heel snugly, without being excessively tight. They should also prevent your feet from rolling excessively to the outside or inside while you walk. If you’ve had problems with plantar fasciitis before, you’re aware of just how much damage can be done to your body if your shoes don’t offer the right level of support.
Massage Your Back
Worry and anxiety can be transferred to the muscles of your back, causing pain. If you’re constantly under pressure, muscle tightness around your spine can cause you to lose mobility. Have a relaxing back massage regularly, to loosen tight muscles. A moderate-level massage also increases blood flow while promoting healing.
Surgery may sometimes be used to prevent further damage to your spine. If your back pain is due to a disc that’s no longer functioning as it should, it can be replaced with an artificial implant. The Center for Artificial Disc Replacement facilitates minimally invasive spine surgeries, which relieve pain and help patients to get back on track with their regular activities.