Have you been dealing with backaches and pain over the last few months? You’re not alone. With more people working from home and feeling more stress, back pain has become a pressing issue. While this may seem like a purely physical issue, For Health’s Sake understands that back pain can result from a combination of physical and mental health factors.
That’s why they would like to offer you this guide filled with helpful tips to support your spine and take better care of your overall health in your work and personal life at home.
Back Pain is an Epidemic
According to research provided by For Health’s Sake, most Canadians will experience some form of back pain. That’s more than 80 percent of the population who may be suffering! Luckily, there are some lifestyle changes you can make during the pandemic to help protect your health, including your spine. Keep on reading to learn more about these habits and stick to them.
Simply Moving More Can Help
Read through the For Health’s Sake link above and you will see that being more active is one of their top recommendations for taming back pain. If your pain started after working from home, this is even more paramount. That’s because we’re all sitting more during the pandemic. To relieve that pain and improve your back health, take breaks to get up and move around more!
Reducing Stress is Recommended
Stress can also make pain and physical discomfort worse. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, one of Canada’s leading mental health resources, states that chronic stress can actually cause feelings of pain. This is in addition to other impacts on your mental and physical health. Moreover, stress has been at an all-time high during the pandemic. So find ways to relieve it.
Decluttering Can Tame Stress
If your home or home office is cluttered, that could be making your back pain worse. This is because clutter tends to interrupt the flow of energy around your home, resulting in less productivity if you’re working from home and more arguments if you’re also self-isolating with other family members. To bring more positivity to your workspace, clear out the clutter, and keep things tidy. You can also let in some fresh air and use feng shui to create calm.
Ergonomics Are Also Essential
While you’re sprucing up your home and workspace, also think about swapping out your chair. Especially if your current office chair does not properly support your spine, which is the case with many makeshift home office setups. Unfortunately, standard dining room chairs are just not ergonomic enough to keep your lumbar and spine healthy. Look for these five qualities when choosing a new chair: backrest, adjustability, stability, lumbar support, and armrests.
Diet Can Reduce Stress and Pain
When you’re working from home, reaching for processed snacks and foods can be convenient. Just keep in mind that convenience can come at a cost when it comes to your health and any chronic pain issues. Unfortunately, processed foods tend to exacerbate inflammation, which in turn can cause more feelings of pain in your back and other areas of the body. If you want to reduce inflammation, try preparing healthier meals and snacks for your week over a weekend.
Spine Care Should Be Comprehensive
By now, you can see that taking better care of your spine while working from home requires a multi-faceted approach. You need to balance a healthy diet with regular exercise and stress management in order to avoid back pain and other spine issues. For Health’s Sake understands this need, which is why their services aim to target all sources of pain and discomfort. From nutrition coaching to chiropractic care to psychotherapy, you find all of the care you need.
You’re already dealing with so much right now. Don’t let back pain and discomfort add to your stress. Adjust things in your home and lifestyle choices to protect your health, and be sure to visit For Health’s Sake or your preferred local provider to preserve your overall well-being.
Written By: Dana Brow @ HealthConditions.info