If you’ve ever had back pain, you know how crippling it can be. It can keep you from working, cause you to cancel plans, and stop you from enjoying life.
The good news is, there are ways to lessen the pain and prevent it from controlling your life.
For the 80% of people who experience back pain at some point, you might wonder if yoga could help. Since yoga involves stretching, building body strength, and improving flexibility, some techniques can indeed help reduce pain.
It’s important to start slowly. Gentle yoga for beginners can help you build strength and gradually reduce pain. While it may not completely cure your pain, it can make it more manageable.
If you’re at a healthy weight, maintaining it is key. If you are overweight, shedding some pounds could ease your back pain. Although being active might be tough when you’re in pain, you can begin by making changes to your diet.
Avoid crash diets, as they often lead to regaining the weight. Instead, develop a sustainable long-term eating plan. Extra weight can strain your back, especially if you’re already in pain.
If your budget allows, acupuncture might be worth a try. One theory is that acupuncture stimulates the nervous system, leading your body to release natural pain-relieving chemicals. It usually takes multiple sessions to see significant improvements, so you might want to try one session to decide if it’s worth continuing.
Don’t overlook your posture, particularly if you spend a lot of time sitting or performing physically demanding work. Poor posture over time weakens your back, making it harder to maintain proper alignment and causing more pain.
Yoga can help with posture, as can kinetic tape, until you get used to sitting and standing correctly and build the necessary strength.
For another pain relief option that minimizes the need for medication, consider a TENS machine. This device sends small electrical impulses to the areas of your back where you feel the most pain, providing short-term relief and reducing muscle tightness, which often contributes to back pain.
Utilizing these methods can help reduce your back pain, allowing you to fully enjoy your work, life, and leisure activities.