If you have an aching back, chances are you’d like it to end as quickly as possible. After all, back pain is more than just something that’s uncomfortable. It can actually bring your entire life to a halt. It can make everything difficult, from taking a shower to even sleeping.
However, if you hope your back pain will end, it’s important that you know what you should and shouldn’t do. Perhaps most importantly you should inform yourself about what you should not do.
Avoiding certain activities can not only heal your current back pain but prevent further injuries from happening again. If you’re experiencing back pain, then here are some mistakes that you’ll want to avoid.
Ignoring The Pain
One of the worst things you can do is ignore the pain and push through whatever you’re experiencing. Even though you might be tempted to tough it out, this is the worst thing you can do as it can exacerbate the problem.
Don’t push through activities, but rather allow yourself to rest. Pain is actually your body communicating with you that it needs to stop doing whatever it’s doing. It’s a signal that something is wrong, so don’t ignore your body when it talks to you. Rest as needed, and see a doctor if possible.
Staying in Bed Too Long
Although rest is incredibly important, too much rest can be a bad thing. You need to stay moderately active in order to keep your body moving and avoid stiffness and weakened muscles. Try to find a balance between resting and staying lightly active with gentle movements like stretching or even yoga.
Not Practicing Proper Posture
Sitting up straight is a must. If you slouch or practice proper posture for long periods of time, you’re going to notice that your pain will persist for an even longer amount of time.
You want to sit up as straight as possible with your feet flat on the floor. Keep your shoulders flat, and if you’re ever lifting anything, make sure you lift with your knees rather than your waist which will help protect your spine.
Intense Workouts
If you’re someone who’s fairly active, then you probably want to keep up with your workout program. However, the problem with that is that working out intensely can seriously injure your back. Instead of keeping up with your regular workout routine, you should instead offer one that’s a little lower impact.
Think swimming, walking, or even just doing a little yoga on the floor. The idea is to not overdo it or cause excessive strain. The sooner you heal, the less likely you will be to develop an injury that’s even worse.
