Back pain is one of the most common health-related complaints about Orange Park, FL, residents. You might think that would be limited to people working in occupations where heavy lifting was normal, but it is not. From delivery drivers to office workers, back pain is everywhere. There are things you can do to help prevent back injuries, though. Below, you’ll find five tips to help safeguard your spinal health.
Lift Correctly
Whether at home or work, it is important that you practice good lifting techniques. Incorrect lifting is one of the most common causes of back injuries. Step close to the object you are going to lift. Bend your knees completely. Grasp the object, and then lift with your legs. Do not lift with your arms or your back.
Don’t Lift and Twist
When lifting any object, regardless of its weight or size, avoid twisting during the lifting motion. This puts additional pressure on your spine and back muscles and can lead to back injuries. Instead, finish your lifting movement and stand straight, then turn your entire body in the direction you need to go.
Stay Hydrated
Interestingly, staying hydrated can help you avoid injuring your back. Drinking eight, 8-ounce glasses of water per day will help keep your intervertebral disks the right height. This helps ensure that they can absorb as much shock as possible.
Strengthen Your Abs
While strong back and shoulder muscles will help prevent back injuries, having strong abdominals is also important. Your “core” does most of the work during lifting and turning, and weak abs put too much strain on other parts of your body, leading to back injury and pain.
Stop Smoking
We’ve heard the advice to quit smoking for decades at this point. The correlation between smoking and lung disease and cancer is well established, but did you know that it can also affect your back health? While it is not well understood how it happens, smoking can actually make existing back pain worse, and can even cause persistent back pain. This is related to smoking-related blood vessel narrowing and its effects on healing and overall health.
Follow the five tips we’ve provided above, and you will have a healthier, happier life with less chance of injuring your back and suffering from back pain. However, if you do experience pain, call Injury Care Centers
