Back pain, along with stress, is a primary cause of absenteeism at work, costing industry and the NHS millions every year.
Usually, when we experience back pain, it begins as a slight niggle in the back, which we may or may not be aware of.
Since we are living more of a sedentary lifestyle, sitting at desks with computers for 8 hours of the day and, the majority, the TV for the remainder before we go to bed. It is no surprise that our backs begin to take their toll, and we experience some back pain.
The minor niggle that we had may develop into excruciating sciatica, extremely painful slipped discs, stiffness and a constant ache in the back that is debilitating. It may impact our mobility, sleep, moods and performance at work.
All is not lost. You can take some simple, proactive, and positive steps to reduce the likelihood of injury and learn how to relieve your back pain.
First, let’s examine your lifestyle and determine how much exercise you do weekly. When you wake up, do you jump out of bed, get in the car, sit at your desk for hours, jump back into the car, and then lounge on your sofa until bedtime?
Or have you decided to take a more proactive step and incorporate some exercises into your routine? For instance, you may want to walk during your lunch break to get some fresh air, which will help relieve your stiff and aching back.
You may even go one step beyond to help learn how to relieve your back pain and decide to invest some money to join a gym, take up a sport, dance, go walking, do some yoga, or swim.
We would emphasise that it is imperative that whatever you choose to do, ideally, you should love it and you will look forward to doing it.
This will help to maintain your motivation, and you will look forward to your activity instead of dreading it or seeing it as a chore.
We recommend that if you decide to implement a new exercise regime to help relieve your back pain, you always speak with your GP to clarify your health and ensure you are able to.
Another effective technique for relieving back pain is to do some very gentle stretching while sitting down. When we sit down for long periods of time, our vertebrae become compacted, which reduces the flexibility of our backs.
Please note that when you do your stretches, always ensure you do not over-stretch yourself in your eagerness, as this can potentially cause injury.
The rule of thumb is to stretch to a gentle point of stretch, without it hurting you. If you experience pain, lightheadedness, etc, then stop immediately.
We find that raising your arms up into the air gives a great, gentle stretch to the back.
You should note that you are sitting comfortably, ideally in an upright chair, and always remember to stretch gently.
This is very important; if done correctly, you will feel taller and more flexible.
To get expert advice on stretching attend a local yoga class, tai chi or chi gong class. A great instructor will teach you, and you will reap many more physical benefits while stretching.
Alternatively, have one of our on-site massage therapists visit your office. We will relieve stiff backs immediately and provide great advice for you and your staff.