Chronic back pain is a very common condition. Some people even say that 4 out of 5 people suffer from back pain in some form or another at some point in their life. Chronic back pain is defined as when a person suffers from the pain for 12 weeks or longer.
Chiropractors are considered experts on back pain. And there are many ways to manage this pain. Obviously, as a chiropractor, I am going to recommend that chiropractic treatment is one of the best options of treating this condition. But there are also some very simple strategies that you can take to manage the pain.
Simple Strategies For Chronic Back Pain.
1. Manage your posture.
A common idea out there is that poor posture is from bad habits. I would argue this idea. At any given time, you are most likely going to be paying attention to the work that you are doing. You are probably not paying attention to your posture. Which means that you you have to think about your posture before you start doing your work. This means setting up your work station so that you don't have to think about your posture.
2. When sitting, try to put your head above your bum.
I know that this is easier said than done, but there are tricks to make this easier. If you are sitting in front of a computer, then make sure that the top of the screen is above your eye level. If you are on your phone, then consider using both hands to hold the phone so that you can hold the phone in front of you and not have your head bent.
3. When sitting, get up and walk around every 30 to 40 minutes.
This helpful tip is good for getting your body moving. But it is also useful for you to clear your mind. When you are very focused on your work, your brain is less creative. If you want to read more about this, then consider read the book "Hyperfocus" by Chris Bailey.
4. Consider getting a low back support for your chair.
Your low back needs to have good curves in order to support the weight that you put on it. When you are sitting, you contract certain muscles causing your back to flatten out. This is why they sell low back supports for chairs. There is a small bump in the chair. That small bump is good for putting the curve back into your back.
5. Get more exercise.
When your back is sore, you probably do not really want to exercise. But studies have shown that keeping your body active really helps to keep your muscles limber. When a muscle moves a bit easier, then it stops pulling on your spine. This causes less pulling on your spine and helps to reduce the back pain.
6. Develop a stretching routine.
At Blue Quill Chiropractic, I (Dr. Mestdagh) can help you develop a stretching routine that would be specific to your problems. Not every problem is the same, nor does every back pain have the same cause. I have been practicing for over 20 years and have been an Edmonton Chiropractor for over 12 of those years. I have helped many people not just with their acute back pain, but have also develop long term strategies such as specific stretches.