Do you ever experience back pain?
Lately I’ve observed that more and more people are talking about their back pain.
A physician friend of mine told me that more than 80 per cent of adults will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives.
Then we started discussing what people can do in their HOMES to help alleviate back pain.
That’s the kind of discussion I enjoy because it produces solutions and options so that you can be proactive in your own care.
Here’s what we came up with!
1. Use reclining furniture.
Many physicians and chiropractors recommend sitting in a reclined position to help alleviate back pain. You want to support your back and lumbar spine. Reclining does a better job of taking away strain from your back compared to sitting up straight or lying flat on the floor.
2. Get a good bed.
This is a huge topic in and of itself but is also a key to alleviating back pain. A good firmness is important, and if you can’t get a new mattress but know that yours is not supporting you properly, get a foam topper.
3. Take a look at the heights of your tables.
Stay away from trendy bar-height tables that don’t allow you to anchor your feet. Sitting at these tables can put added strain on your back and require extra effort when you get up or sit down.
4. Do you have a nice deep tub in your house?
Moist heat is often recommended for back pain. Soaking in a deep warm tub, or better yet, using whirlpool jets, can provide soothing relief. Keep the jet setting low so that you feel like you’re getting a gentle massage.
5. While hard wood floors are beautiful, it’s better support to have carpet or padded area rugs.
Over the years when I’ve had wooden floors in my home I’ve purchased carpet remnants and foam padding and had them fitted to the floor space I wanted to cover. This has worked well. I also prefer to have carpeted stairs and find it easier to practice good posture going up and down stairs when they are carpeted.
6. When you have back pain it’s a good idea to organize your space in a way that doesn’t make you REACH too much.
Store heavier items as well as the things you use most often at arm level so that you avoid the strain that comes from bending or lifting.
Yes, these 6 pointers may seem like common sense, but sometimes we don’t see the changes we can make in our own living spaces.
And of course, as a movement coach I’d be very remiss if I didn’t mention that things like your posture and how you move have a HUGE influence on the health of your spine and back.
So don’t forget that you don’t need to suffer with back pain.
There are a lot of options for self care but I thought looking inside your home for changes you can make was worth focusing on. Hope you did, too!
shelli
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