It’s a simple activity that we do every day, whether we’re driving to work, typing on a computer at our desk, playing video games or watching television. A sedentary activity, sitting can cause our backs to become strained leading to discomfort or pain. What you may not know is that too much sitting can also cause tightness in the hip flexors, important muscles that are responsible for easy movement.

Get Moving

So, what can you do? One of the best ways to keep back pain at bay is by staying active. This doesn’t just dramatically decrease low back pain, but best of all, physical activity is natural, drug-free and fun. Taking walk breaks throughout the day is good for your spine and your overall health.

Looking for a more rigorous exercise? Running, working out at the gym or doing yoga can also help reduce pain.

Boost Your Health

Sitting doesn’t just strain your back—it’s also bad for your health. Sitting can contribute to a variety of chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. When you get moving, you’re not only helping your back, but enhancing your health too.

Developing malfunctioning spinal joints from excessive sitting puts needless wear and tear on your spine. Feel better by making sure you’re well adjusted.

From swinging golf clubs to weeding the garden, popular sports and weekend activities can take a toll on our backs. Even daily chores like lifting heavy groceries or carrying a hefty load of laundry can cause back pain.

Millions of people suffer from back pain every year. Though most back pain is acute or short term and doesn’t last more than a few days or weeks, other types of back pain can be chronic, lasting for three months or more.

Causes

Back pain has a variety of causes, many of which are mechanical:

• Sprains and strains: A strain of the muscle or ligament in the back is a common cause of acute lower back pain. Lifting heavy objects, twisting, or moving abruptly can all contribute.
• Disc degeneration: As we age, back pain can become more commonplace. Intervertebral discs can lose fluid and flexibility. As a result, there’s a decrease in the discs’ ability to cushion the spine and prevent unobstructed nerve communication.
• Sciatica: When the sciatic nerve is compressed, back pain, along with pain down the leg, can be common.
• Traumatic injury: Falls, automobile accidents and sports injuries can result in severe back pain.

Prevention

Shedding extra pounds and maintaining a healthy weight is important when it comes to preventing back pain as excess weight can cause back strain. Maintaining good posture while walking and sitting is important as well. Planning to move furniture or another heavy object? Assume a squatting position and let your legs do the work, not your back. Also, enlist the help of one or two others as sharing the load means less wear and tear on your body.

Regular chiropractic checks can help you keep your back strong and healthy and less likely to experience pain.