Our backs are one of our most important parts of our bodies, as they hold our spines, keep us in alignment, help us regulate our nervous systems, and allow us to do all of the physical processes we do each day (walk, run, sit, etc.). This is why it’s so important to take care of your back, especially when you’re young! Here are a few tips:

Sit Properly

We obviously need to sit in order to relax. And not only that, but there are other times where sitting is essential (like working from home!). While sitting is unavoidable at times, you should still try to sit well to avoid injury. This means trying to sit straight with upright posture, not sitting for extended periods of time (if/when you can help it), standing at regular intervals, and ensuring that you have proper support under your hips.

While it may be tempting to sit on a pillow or cushion for extra support, this can actually be damaging because it causes your hips to go out of alignment. If you want the best support, try something like a hip cushion that will keep your weight balanced as you sit.

Alternate Standing & Sitting

In general, it’s wise to try and alternate standing and sitting, as this is going to put less strain on your back in general. This is because you use a different set of muscles for standing than you do for sitting, so you need to actually give both sets a chance to work. If you can do that, you’ll find that your back is less likely to feel stiff and to seize up.

There’s no “golden rule” when it comes to alternating your standing and sitting, so just make sure to switch it up semi-frequently and give your back a break.

Manage Stress

People often forget that the body and the mind are really one. If you want to avoid any serious problems in your back or other parts of your body, then you need to ensure you are keeping your mind looked after, too. The main way you should do this is by managing your stress levels as best as you can. The more effectively you manage your stress, the less you are going to be carrying around in your body, the result being that you are going to have a much healthier spine overall.

Of course, there are many ways to manage and reduce stress, so it’s all about trying to be mindful of what stresses you out and then trying to keep that at bay or to a minimum at least. If you can do that, it’s going to make a huge difference all in all to how your back feels.

Get It Checked Out

From time to time, it’s a good idea to have your back looked at by a professional. They are going to be able to tell you if there is anything seriously wrong, or if there is anything you could be doing to care for it better. Whether you need chiropractic care or not, it’s something that you should look into as it can help you to take care of your back more effectively.

This is something that is worth doing once every year at least, and perhaps more often if you are particularly worried about your back.

 

Featured Image Credit: Lina