At the moment we are in the middle of Covid-19 lockdown situation, this means that many of us are sitting at home, usually slouched on the sofa, or we are working at short-term home desks, which are not actually fit for that purpose. When you think of this, it is easy to see why lower back pain is something that many people are going to be suffering from at the moment. The thing about back pain is that it is not only incredibly uncomfortable and causes a range of issues, but it is also something that can be prevented. To help you make sure that you avoid back pain as best you can; we have put together our guide on the 4 easy ways to avoid back pain.
1) Be as active as you can to avoid back pain
There is a reason why they are recommending that everyone gets out and about once a day during this lockdown period. This is because exercise is good for you on a variety of levels. Not only does exercise help you to feel as happy as possible, but it also helps to release muscle tension and ease any inflammation that has built up in your back. Another great thing about exercise is that the more that you do it, then the stronger your muscles will be.
2) Think about the way that you sleep
The way that you sleep could be having an impact on the way that your back feels. The best way to sleep if you have back pain is to sleep on your side with your knees pulled up towards your chest. Of course, this might not be the ideal choice for everyone. So, if you prefer to sleep on your back, then you might want to think about popping a pillow under your knees and another under your lower back. The worst position to sleep in if you have back pain is on your front. However, if this is the only position that you can sleep in, then you should make sure that you have a pillow under your hips.
3) Make healthy choices to avoid back pain
You may not realise it but your diet and your lifestyle choices can have a big impact on your body as a whole. This is particularly true when it comes to things such as smoking. Smoking will restrict the flow of blood to your spine, which is packed full of nutrients. This lack of nutrients will be likely to make you much more vulnerable to back pain.
4) Consider your posture
How you sit is important and it is vital that you try to sit up straight with a bit of low-back support. You should keep your knees a little higher than your hips when you sit down. The best way to do this is to have your feet on a stool. Of course, at the moment, your usual ergonomically designed workspace isn’t going to be as possible. So, you are going to need to do what you can to make sure that you are comfortable and that your posture is supported.
With things set to stay the same for a few weeks yet, it is important to take care of yourself as much as you can. Your back is something to support and if you notice that you are have back pain, then you need to do what you can to minimise it.
If you are suffering from back pain and need to see a Podiatrist, call us on 020 3327 0194 or book an appointment online here.