Top Ways to Relieve Your Back Pain

man-with-back-pain

Use these home treatments to heal and prevent back pain.

Back pain can be a powerful thing, often crippling full-grown men and women for days on end. If you’ve ever experienced it, you will know that back pain is uncomfortable and can bring your life to a complete halt. The good news for those suffering from serious back pain is that it can usually be treated at home.

To help heal back pain when it starts to twinge, implement these tips.

Reinvent Your Workspace

Back pain starts with a cause, and for many, that cause is often poor posture. Sitting or slouching at a desk for hours each day is almost a sure-fire way to experience some form of back pain. For this reason, try to be mindful of your posture throughout the day, and take regular breaks to stretch and move around. Pick a chair that prevents slouching, and keep your computer screen at eye level to avoid looking down, putting pressure on your spine.

Practice Low-Impact Exercise

Building strong muscles and a strong core will help you maintain better posture and improve spine alignment. Try low-impact exercises that will strengthen your abs, such as planks, crunches, and medicine ball twists. Regular yoga or Pilates can also help relieve upper and middle back pain as they incorporate a number of positions and moves that engage these muscles. Don’t forget to stretch before and after a workout, either!

Ice and Heat

Ice and heat relieve back pain in a number of different ways, which can be used alone or together depending on what’s causing the pain. Ice works to reduce swelling and should be applied right away to an injured or sprained muscle. On the other hand, heat relaxes tightened muscles, and a warm shower or a heated wrap is ideal for older injuries caused by tension.

For minor to moderate injuries and medical issues, visit Sand Canyon Urgent Care. If a higher level of care is needed, our triage staff and/or providers will direct patients to the appropriate specialist, or to an emergency room for further treatment. Call us today for more information!