8 Reasons Why We Experience Back Pain

Every person can experience back pain from time to time. Regardless if we’re old with a back condition or if we’re young and healthy, this problem can affect us for reasons that may actually surprise us.

• Your mattress is too old

Mattresses have an average lifespan of 8 to 10 years. Over time, it loses its form and can no longer properly support your back. The solution for that would be buying a new mattress that is neither too soft nor too hard.

• You carry huge bags

This is a problem for those who seem like they’re carrying their house with them wherever they go. Your bag should not weigh more than 10% of your body weight; otherwise, your back might hate you forever. Try to switch to lighter bags.

• You’re continuously sitting throughout the day

This isn’t exactly good news for those of you who work in an office. Sitting puts 50% more pressure on your back than standing does, and your back muscles get weaker because of the inactivity. Since not many offices have the luxury of a standing desk, try leaning back at a 130-degree angle with your head straight to reduce disk compression.

• You wear inappropriate footwear

High heels might put your back in a position where we are forced to arch our back, stressing our joints in the meantime. At the same time, flats can also put your back to harm because they don’t have a supportive back. It all depends on your foot type, which you have to discover for yourself.

• You’re eating too much junk food

High-calorie foods can cause you to gain weight. There’s no surprise here. Excess weight puts a strain on your back, which is struggling to support the extra weight. Weight around the midsection forces the pelvis to pull forward, thus arching the back and placing it under stress. By dropping only 5-10% of your body weight, you can see a huge improvement in your condition.

• You hold grudges

Research says that the more you forgive, the less you are prone to feeling pain, emotionally and psychically. Your pain signals are actually influenced by your emotions, thoughts and muscle tensions. So try to forgive that stranger who just stole your parking place.

• You’re not working out enough

Remember those commercials that said: “for a better life, exercise at least 30 minutes every day”? Well, they’re not that far off at all. If you don’t exercise enough, your muscles stiffen, become weak and your spinal disks degenerate. Try to find workouts that strengthen your back and abdomen.

• You’re stressing too much

Just like being angry all the time puts a strain on your back, stress does that to you as well. The muscles contract and clench up, and if they don’t relax, they cause pain. So don’t worry, be happy.

You may be saying that you’re “healthy as a stud”, but that doesn’t stop your daily habits from putting an unnecessary strain on your back, which can be easily avoided by means of posture and activity.