About 80 percent of people deal with back pain at some point over the course of their lives, but if you're suffering from this discomfort, you can take steps to improve it. If you've heard about people getting positive results through chiropractic care, now is the time to try this form of therapy. Your chiropractor will be able to assess your body to determine the exact area of your discomfort and adjust your spine to help it achieve proper alignment, reduce pressure on your nerves and eliminate muscle strains that are contributing to the pain. Chiropractic care achieves the best results when your actions complement the adjustments; given that you might spend much of your time at work, here's how to keep your back healthy during the workday.
Ensure That Your Posture Is Proper
If your job requires you to sit for long stretches of time, it's imperative that you sit in a position that is healthy for your back. Slouching or otherwise sitting in an incorrect manner can negate the progress that your chiropractor has made. Healthy posture means that your weight should be evenly distributed between both your hips, and your lower back should be pressed into the back support of the chair – ideally, the chair will have adjustable lumbar support to suit the natural curve of your spine. Your shoulders should rest comfortably on your armrests and your knees should be bent at around 90 degrees.
Don't Stay Seated For Too Long
Even if you're busy, you'll be doing the health of your back a favor by avoiding staying seated for too long. Ideally, you should be getting up about every 15 minutes. Doing so loosens the muscles in your back that may have tightened while you were sitting and could be pulling your spine out of alignment. Your regular breaks don't have to be long; something as simple as getting up and walking around your office or going to get a drink of water can be effective. Try to incorporate other activities such as walking the length of the hall outside your office or climbing a set of stairs as a way to keep your back limbered up.
Try To Minimize Your Stress
Stress can worsen your back pain and partially undo the progress made during your chiropractic adjustments. Given the prevalence of workplace stress, it's important for you to take steps to minimize this anxiety. Think about talking to a manager or HR rep to discuss rearranging your job description or making deadlines easier to hit. You might also want to think about adding an enjoyable activity at the end of your workday to help keep your mood light.
