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Knowing how to ease back pain naturally can greatly improve your quality of life. Our spine and back muscles support most of our body weight, and we use them for everyday movements such as sitting, walking, and standing. People experience pain when their back muscles are inflamed, which can get in the way of daily living activities. In fact, research has shown that back pain is the leading cause of disability all over the world.
Fortunately, there are plenty of effective natural remedies to help manage and alleviate back pain effectively without relying on medication. A few simple lifestyle changes can go a long way in soothing the pain. Let’s explore the best ways to relieve back pain the natural way in the comfort of your own home.
5 Natural Ways To Relieve Back Pain
Back pain is a common issue that affects people of all ages and can significantly impact daily life. While medication and surgical options are available, many prefer to explore natural methods to alleviate discomfort. Here are the top 5 holistic approaches to help you manage and reduce back pain at home:
Improve Your Posture
Proper posture is essential to having healthy back muscles. Poor posture can lead to nonspecific back pain, so it’s important to maintain good alignment throughout daily activities. Making sure that your spine is properly aligned while sitting, standing, and walking can prevent unnecessary strain on your back muscles, reducing the risk of pain and discomfort.
According to a recent study, doing exercises such as yoga, pilates, tai chi, aerobic exercise, walking, running, cycling, and swimming might improve both posture and lower back pain. Here are a few more tips to maintain good posture and help soothe back pain:
- Always Check Your Posture: Be mindful of your alignment when you’re sitting, standing, or walking. When you catch yourself slumping, adjust your neck, shoulder, and back alignment immediately to prevent stresses on your spine.
- Stand Correctly: Distribute your weight on both sides of your body rather than leaning only on one leg or side.
- Avoid Excessive Sitting: When you sit for long periods of time, the pressure on your spinal discs increases. Try to stand up at least once an hour and walk a short distance to take the load off your discs.
- Rotate Your Activities: Change your activities from time to time to avoid the same set of muscles and joints from getting over-exerted. If you’ve been standing for a long duration, switch to an activity that involves sitting.
- Rest When Your Back Hurts: When you’re experiencing back pain, it’s important to let your back rest – do less exertive activities like watching a movie, listening to music, or reading a book.
Make Changes To Your Workstation
As mentioned above, excessive sitting is not advised. This is especially true to office workers who spend a significant part of their day sitting down in front of a computer screen. To avoid or soothe back issues, it’s essential that your workstation is ergonomically designed to promote good posture and movement throughout the day.
The computer screen should be at eye level and the chair is at the correct height. Consider investing in a comfortable chair with proper lumbar support, adjustable height, and armrests. Your desk should be at an appropriate height so that your wrists are straight and your arms are parallel to the ground when typing.
Stretch and Exercise
Doing daily stretches and exercise can go a long way in relieving back pain. If you’re experiencing back issues, it’s recommended that you start a daily exercise routine, ideally with stretching and strength training sessions. Daily short walks, yoga sessions, a water aerobics class, swimming, or another low-impact activity will also help, as they help release tension from tight muscles and prevent future back pain episodes.
Make Diet Changes
Following a healthy, balanced diet is another effective natural way to combat back pain. A study published in the National Library of Medicine found that a diet low in whole grains, dairy, and fruit is most ideal for individuals experiencing chronic pain.
Anti-inflammatory foods are ideal for reducing pain. These include:
- Fruits and vegetables, specifically leafy greens
- Whole grain foods
- Fiber
- Yogurt
- Green Tea
- Tart cherry juice
- Black Pepper
- Spices like ginger and turmeric
Some foods that you need to limit or avoid include:
- Refined sugars
- Refined flour or gluten
- Trans fats and saturated fats
- Produce like eggplant, potatoes, and tomatoes
- Dairy products
- Red meat
Get A Massage
Yes, massage therapy effectively soothes back pain, on top of addressing various physical and psychological factors that contribute to discomfort. A relaxing massage can help release tension from tight muscles, improve blood circulation, release endorphins, reduce anxiety and stress, and break down scar tissue.
Incorporating regular massages into your routine can be a proactive measure to maintain back health and overall well-being. Consult with a licensed massage therapist to develop a personalized treatment plan that targets your specific needs and concerns.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to ease back pain naturally, incorporate these changes to your daily life instead of relying on pain medication. Not only will your back pain go away, but your overall health and well-being will improve drastically as well.