If you tend to sit all day at an office job, you may get stiff and have minor aches and pains in your back. Ideally, you should exercise and stretch to combat stiffness and aches, but a busy schedule doesn't always allow that. Thankfully, you have many options at your disposal to take care of minor backaches. Here are tips to help you find relief from pain.
Go Visit a Chiropractic Clinic
While you may think that a chiropractic visit may be out of the budget, be sure to check your health insurance first. Many insurance carriers are willing to pay for an allotment of visits (often 10 to 12 a year) rather than for expensive surgeries; so, you may just be covered. A chiropractor can realign your vertebrae safely. When you sit for long periods of time, you may revert to poor posture. Poor posture can cause a chain reaction of misalignments throughout the body; and in some cases, you could have compressed nerves. A chiropractic adjustment can take pressure off of nerves and help to relieve any aches you may have.
Consider a Massage
If the pain in your back is muscle-related in nature, rather than skeletal, then a massage is a great option. Like chiropractic visits, some massages are covered by insurance as long as you get a doctor's note for a clinical massage practice. Some chiropractors are trained in massage techniques and offer them along with adjustments. Your massage therapist can do a deep tissue massage to relieve pain and tension. Deep tissue massages help to break up tight fascia and restore your body's range of motion. Massages are also great for increasing circulation, which can speed up healing. Lastly, massages release endorphins, so you will feel happier and less stressed afterward.
Practice Good Posture
Many people suffer from forward head thrust (FHT). FHT is a real problem because the more forward you move your head, the more your neck has to compensate. In fact, you could add about 20 to 30 extra pounds of pressure to your neck this way! Since remembering to sit with good posture can be hard at first, invest in some ergonomic furniture for your office. When your chairs and desks are at the right levels and comfortable, it will be easier to get out of the FHT habit.
Use Ice and Heat
Keep an ice pack or a heating pack at work for some relief. Ice can bring down any swelling you may have and dull pain. Heating packs can increase blood circulation and help your muscles relax.
Talk with your chiropractic clinic for more tips on how to improve your condition.
Share1 February 2018
Hi there, my name is Georgette Limerick. I am excited to share my knowledge about chiropractic procedures with you today. I was a softball player through middle school, high school and college. I often stood on the pitcher's mound and lobbed the ball over the plate. The constant movement of my shoulder pulled the ligaments and joint out of alignment. Eventually, I developed an immense amount of pain throughout my neck, back and shoulder. The pain even shot down my arm to my fingertips, making it difficult to work at an acceptable pace. I visited a chiropractor several times to see if some precise adjustments would help. After the third visit, I was convinced the procedures healed me. My site will explore the benefits of chiropractic procedures in detail. Thanks for coming by.