The back is certainly one of the more interesting parts of the body. It’s what we rest on at night and recline on in our chairs, but it’s also a source of pain for many of us. Below are some fun, interesting, and maybe even cool facts about your back:

YOUR BACK IS STRONG, VERY STRONG

The majority of us will experience back pain at some point in our lifetime, ranging from mild aches and pains to chronic back pain that may require treatment. In the vast majority of cases, most of us can expect our backs to spring back into action quickly and with little to no treatment. The strength and resilience of the muscles, ligaments, and bones on our backs should not be underestimated.

KEEP ACTIVE AND AVOID EXCESSIVE BED REST

If you’re experiencing bouts of back pain, it is normally a good idea to avoid getting too much rest in bed. Try to resume normal activities, within reason, to keep yourself and your back active and healthy. If you are experiencing crippling back pain that forces to you to remain in bed, you should listen to the advice of your physician and not strain yourself too much. But in most other cases, try to get at least a little daily activity in.

YOU CAN BEND AND LIFT

Perhaps you’ve heard once or twice before “lift with your knees, not your back.” This is a good rule of thumb to abide by, since lifting heavy weights with your back alone can lead to injury and sprains. You can, however, lift with the majority of the weight applied to the knees or arms (depending on the object) in a safe manner. Performing squats with weights is a good example of a safe activity so long as the weight is no being lifted with the back but instead is only being supported on the shoulders for stability.

PAINKILLER MEDICATION WON’T HEAL YOUR BACK

It should be obvious that painkillers are no panacea to a bad back – they simply mask the symptoms of pain. Do not use painkillers in lieu of good, healthy exercise but instead only use them as directed and in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle.

SURGERY IS RARELY NECESSARY

In some rare cases, back pain can lead to other symptoms that require surgical treatment. In the vast majority of cases, however, surgery is not necessary to alleviate back pain.

HEALTHY EXERCISE KEEPS YOUR BACK HEALTHY

Within your own means and depending on the severity of your back pain, always endeavour to get at least a little bit of healthy exercise in throughout the day. This keeps your back healthy and can help overcome symptoms.

BACK PAIN DOES NOT ALWAYS COME FROM INJURIES

It might seem obvious that back pain can come from injuries, but many cases of back pain come from other physical and/or psychological factors such as poor posture, improper sleeping position, or even from stress.

A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP IS ESSENTIAL

If you’re getting a full eight hours of sleep every night, that’s a third of the entire day spent on a mattress. Make sure you’re sleeping in the proper position. We’ve written a blog entry on exactly this topic if you want to know the best sleeping position for your back.

GOOD BACK TREATMENT CAN BE A LIFE SAVER

If you’re suffering from back pain , you should speak to your Chiropractor about treatment options.

BETTER BACKS

Spring back into action with a consultation and treatment from our Chiropractors us at Better Backs.