Lower back pain is a very common issue that many people face daily. In fact, according to many studies, about 8 out of every 10 Americans suffer from lower back pain.
There are several reasons why you might get affected by this ailment. It can happen due to intense unsupervised exercise or may happen from something as mundane as cleaning. Old sports injuries can also be a contributing factor as can be chronic conditions like arthritis.
A point of caution here is that if you get back pain suddenly and it is very severe, you need to get looked at by a physical therapist. The same applies if your pain does not go away on its own.
While all of the above is all true, you should also make yourself aware of the many forms of treatment available for the condition. That is exactly what we will be looking at today in this article. Let us take a closer look at getting rid of lower back pain.
Light Therapy
Simply put, light therapy is a revolutionary form of therapy that can help you deal with back pain. In fact, light therapy is good for so many things; we literally cannot list the entire benefits of light therapy in this article.
In short, light therapy works by exposing you to brilliant and powerful light from a light therapy device. The light being emitted by the device needs to be powerful enough to yield benefits. In most cases, light therapy devices need to be able to produce light that is 10,000 lux units in strength.
Light therapy is also very beneficial for helping you deal with lower back problems. You may be wondering what exactly can light therapy do to help you deal with such complicated issues. Let us demystify that right now.
Light therapy has the ability to penetrate through the many different layers of the skin to reach deep into the muscles and nerves. Your body’s cells will then absorb energy from the light you are exposed to, and they become a lot more active. There is also an increase in the blood flow levels in areas of the body exposed to light. This will help with regrowing cells and to also regenerate the cells. This will help with reducing inflammation within the body and help you repair injuries or wounds.
Keep Moving
This may be difficult to pull off, especially when you are already in a lot of pain. However, just know that most doctors will still recommend this as the first line of defense against lower back pain.
This is a very common misconception as well. People who have lower back pain issues can stay active. The first thing you should do is to make sure that you keep up with your usual activity levels. Something as simple as just a brisk walk for about 30 minutes will suffice. Try to do this about 3 or 4 times a week.
When you don’t stay active, you will allow your muscles to become weak around the affected area. This can result in lower support for our spines, which can cause extreme long-term pain.
Stretching Exercises and Strengthening Exercises
Strong abdominal muscles can help you greatly with your lower back pain issues. If you invest proper time and effort in strengthening and flexibility exercises, you will be able to get rid of lower back pain and stop it from occurring in the first place.
Doing these exercises right at the beginning of your day is a particularly good idea. However, if you are a bit older or worried about doing too much too soon, you can stretch in the morning and perform strengthening exercises later in the day.
Proper Posture
A good posture is just generally good for your overall quality of life. It is also very effective in easing the pressure you have on your lower back. You can use some particular things to help you maintain good posture. This includes things like tape, straps, or even bands that are stretchy. All of these help keep the spine in proper alignment. You should also try to not slouch your shoulders and not have your chin be forward.
Healthy Weight
If you are able to shed some extra pounds, it will really help with lowering the stress levels on your affected lower back areas.
The logic behind why losing weight is so helpful for reducing lower back pain is that it will help you reduce the net mechanical force being applied to your spine.
Quit Smoking
A lot of research has suggested that smokers are about 4 times more likely to have some sort of degenerative disk disease and many other spine problems.
This body of research has also suggested that the nicotine present in cigarettes and other forms of tobacco products can really weaken the bones of your spine. It can also be a major reason behind losing important nutrients from your spongy disks which are responsible for cushioning your joint.
Try Ice and Heat
A lot of people think that one of the two works and the other one does not when it comes to relieving you of your back pain woes. The truth is that whatever method works for you, you ought to stick to that.
In fact, a good idea may be to try both and see which one actually works for you and benefits you.
Final Words
Lower back pain can drastically reduce your overall quality of life. This is why it is so important to make sure that you take the steps necessary to best deal with the situation. Remember to seek professional help if the condition persists or if it happens all of a sudden.
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