Chronic back pain is the second most common cause of disability and a top reason for missing work. We all know the soreness associated with an overly exuberant exercise session. But did you know that most Americans experience pain as the result of improper posture while sitting and standing? It’s true, we can cause back pain by just sitting. Being overweight, poor posture, and repetitive or overuse movements all can put strain on the low back, as can sleeping on a bad mattress and using a workstation that isn’t set up ergonomically.
So literally, it’s time to stand up to back pain. Changing your posture and position change help ease lower back pain. If you have a desk job, plan in short breaks every half-hour or so to stand, stretch and walk around for a few minutes.
Therapeutic massage gets to the root of the pain by relaxing those tight muscles and addressing trigger points to put a stop to the pain cycle. Massage also increases blood flow to the affected muscles, which brings in healing oxygen and nutrients, and helps remove the waste products of cellular metabolism. All of this activity reduces swelling and stiffness and increases flexibility to help eliminate pain. Massage therapy also releases endorphins and boosts your levels of serotonin and dopamine, all hormones your body produces to help you feel good, promote healing and pain management, and calm the nerves sending those cyclical pain signals.
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