Prevent back pain with core work and supplements

If you have low back pain, you’re not alone.  80% of all Americans experience lower back pain at some point in their lives, according to the American Academy of Physical Medicine and rehabilitation. 

So why not just go see a doctor and get some pain pills?  That’s a bad idea because:

1. Long-term use of pain pills is extremely bad for your liver, which is the organ in charge of metabolizing stored fat.
2. Unless the doctor is trained in sports medicine, he or she is likely to recommend rest alone…and this will not cure the underlying problem.
3. Only 10% of all lower back pain is due to an underlying systemic illness.

What about a chiropractor?  Yes, chiropractors are good for temporary relief of pain because they can realign your spine…but if you don’t address the root cause of misalignment, your back will go out again.

For most people who suffer from lower back pain, there are several root causes of spinal misalignment or muscle pain: 

• Poor posture
• Lack of core (or torso) strength
• Lack of flexibility
• Inadequate nutrition

If you work at a desk all day, pay attention to how you sit.  Your feet should be flat on the floor, your lower back should be straight, and your shoulders should not be rounded forwards.

If you do a lot of driving, put a small pillow behind your lower back to support it, and avoid rounding your shoulders forward.

Gerry Morton, CEO of EnergyFirst, has these suggestions for adding strength and flexibility to your core muscles:

1. Buy an exercise ball (also known as a stability or Swiss ball)
2. Inflate it to the point that when you sit on it with feet flat on the floor, and your hips level with your knees.
3. Lie on your back on the ball and perform partial crunches to strengthen your abdominal muscles.
4. Lie on your front and do front walkouts to strengthen your lower back.
5. If possible, sit on the ball instead of a chair when you are at your desk.
6. Supplement with resistance work from weights or surgical tubing to strengthen your upper back, chest, and shoulders.
7. Read up on stretches specifically for your back, chest and shoulders and do them.

The great thing about stability balls is that they force you to use all the little stabilizer muscles in order to balance yourself on the ball.

Just like cars don’t run well on low-octane fuel, your body needs optimum nutrition to support a healthy back.  One of the best supplements available for aching backs is Energy First’s Pain and Inflammation Blend.

Whether you suffer from chronic low back pain or have just temporarily thrown your back out of alignment, Pain and Inflammation Blend will help your body respond to pain and swelling safely and effectively.

More tips on how you can prevent debilitating back pain can be found by visiting Building Stronger Joints.