Los Altos, CA
My name is Kim Gladfelter, a low back pain Expert in the South Bay Area. In this article, I’d like to show you 6 “different” ways of finding relief from low back pain that I give out to patients of my clinic.
I say differently, because there are ways that don’t include the standard pain meds and rest option that seems to be advised a lot these days.
If you are suffering from back pain and want to find relief from it – without risking surgery – then all of these methods are proven to help:
1. Avoid Sitting Cross Legged – your spine isn’t designed to twist or turn. And sitting in a cross-legged position is contributing to back pain because of that little known fact.
2. Sleep With A Pillow Between Your Knees – might be difficult at first, but if you can persist, it lowers the amount of rotation/ twisting happening at your spine. If you sleep on your side, try a pillow between your legs to keep your spine in a nice position, and this will reduce tension in your lower back – meaning that you’re more likely to wake up in the morning in less pain and able to move more freely.
Have questions? Call (650) 947-8500 or visit www.physiofitpt.com/back-pain
3. Avoid Sleeping On Your Stomach – There isn’t a faster way to self-inflicted damage to your spine/lower back than by sleeping on your stomach. Avoid this position at all costs.
4. Change Your Mattress Every 5 Years – I get asked “should I change my mattress” just about every day. But it’s almost impossible to answer, as everyone has a different response to changing a mattress or the type of mattress they sleep on. But, what I can say is this: if you haven’t changed your mattress in the last five years, then it’s about time that you did, as you’re unlikely to be getting the support for your lower back that you really would benefit from.
5. Stay Hydrated – this is a BIG Office worker mistake that could be zapping your energy and increasing lower backache. One really simple way to avoid this is to eliminate the substances that cause dehydration in the first place. Things like excessive coffee, tea, alcohol, and energy drinks – you will be dehydrated if you drink too much of them, and more likely to suffer from back pain.
6. Daily Lower Back Exercise Rituals – Yoga and Pilates. If you can get into the routine or good habit of doing simple stretches and strengthening of your lower back muscles, you will benefit right through your 50’s, 60’s and beyond.
In the same way that you brush your teeth twice per day to keep them clean and avoid pain, you need to look at working on your back in a similar way.
…Now, what I can’t ever promise you is that any or all of those things will work for you. I just know that if you and I got chatting and you asked me for some tips on ways that I know are capable of making a significant difference in bringing relief from back pain, I’d suggest all of those that you’ve just read.
And if you would like us to take a look at your lower back pain – and tell you more about your specific problems, then call my physical therapy clinic and ask for a 100% FREE DISCOVERY SESSION where we can take a look at your lower back and explain to you what’s going on, and what should be done to fix it.
Call (650) 947-8500