Back Pain
Chronic pain is usually described as any persistent or intermittent pain that lasts more than three months. Clinical studies reveal that chronic pain, as a stress state, often induces low mood. With 80% of adults experiencing lower back pain at some point in their lives, this is a very widespread problem. Low mood can often cause frequent or unexplained pain, just as back or chronic pain can cause restlessness, stress, sadness, and other emotions associated with low mood. Regardless of where the pain comes from, it is important to learn how to take care of yourself and your back, to prevent back pain from occurring at all.
Here are a few tips to help ensure a healthy mind and body:
- Exercise: Exercising daily is crucial to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Make sure you warm up beforehand and then cool down and stretch after each session. Stretching allows for posture improvement, blood-flow, and tension reduction. Stretching the hamstrings and hip flexors, muscles that are attached to the pelvis, can also help reduce back pain. You don’t need to exercise for long, just half an hour of gentle exercise is usually enough to increase your breathing as long as it is done most days.
- Healthy Diet: Ensure that you are keeping up with a healthy diet – even when life gets busy and hectic. Healthy whole foods are vital to having long-lasting, slow release energy and maintaining a balanced mood. Along with drinking more water, try adding more fruits and vegetables to give your body a boost.
- Treatment: If you continue to have pain, seek advice from a healthcare professional. Chiropractors specialise in pain reduction, which can improve overall health.
Back pain and low mood should not be overlooked. If you suffer from back pain, keep these tips in mind and seek professional advice where you can.