It’s probably fair to say that there’s a lot riding on your back! After all, it’s your main structural support, acting as a column to keep you upright and helps in performing day-to-day activities with ease.
The great thing about the spinal column is that it is unique in a way compared to other parts of the body: when need be, it keeps you stable enough to stand upright and perform challenging tasks, and it is also flexible enough to help you bend over and perform certain tasks which may be just as challenging or more.
It’s not by surprise that one of the most common health problems among people of all ages today are those that have to do with the spine. As it continues to take somewhat of a beating each day, people tend to forget just how much care the back musculature and spine require in order to stay healthy and robust over the years.
Take care of your back like you own it!
While it’s inevitable that some wear and tear will occur with age – causing flexibility and mobility issues (which are quite manageable to be honest) – taking care of your back the way it deserves will ensure that you keep it functioning optimally throughout the years.
You’d be surprised how many back issues can be remedied simply by adjusting your posture, changing the way you sit or walk, for example, or by seeing a chiropractor who can perform spinal adjustments to ‘reset’ the spine.
There’s only so much diet, sleep and nutrition can do for your back – at some point, a chiropractor or back massage therapist needs to be consulted to ensure optimal back health.
Some common causes of back problems (not including age).
For some people, back problems occur naturally with age, but apart from the age factor, there may be several underlying causes for any kind of back trouble, including:
- Repetitive movements each day or overstressing the back muscle with the same movements or motions again and again.
- Lifting things off the floor or pushing/pulling heavy objects carelessly without proper form.
- Maintaining poor posture while sitting at a desk or driving – e.g. slouching or with shoulders and neck hunched forward.
- Generally, poor posture while walking, jogging or running, or while lifting weights at the gym – i.e. not taking care to ‘brace’ the core and maintain the spine’s natural arch.
- Too many caffeinated drinks cause dehydration which can lead to unnecessary back problems.
- Diet inadequacies are directly responsible for dehydration and not supplying the back with the necessary nutrients needed to recover from daily physical stresses.
If you look at the anatomy of the spine, it is a stack of 24 bones, which we call vertebrae. A healthy spine will always have that natural ‘S-shaped’ curve if you look at it from the side. This is necessary to protect you, from your upper back and shoulders, all the way down to your lower back and buttocks. If any of the vertebrae, surrounding muscles, joints or nerves take a beating and are not given the proper care and medical attention, it could lead to many debilitating issues, including restricted movement, pain, and even a loss of control and movement in other parts of the body.
Freedom Clinics has some of the UK’s most qualified chiropractors and massage therapists, ready to give your back the premium treatment it deserves. It’s easy to keep your back healthy for a lifetime through timely and professional intervention.
