How many times did your mother say to you, “Don’t slouch; sit up straight,” when you were a child? You may not have realized it at the time, but that was some of the best advice she could have given you that would end up carrying into your adult life. As many Maryland residents can attest, there are many scenarios that can result in persistent lower back pain that can wreak havoc on our daily lives. Whether it’s sitting at a desk all day, sitting in front of the TV, or sitting at a restaurant, having good posture is key for the best spinal health. If you are suffering from back pain, a low back pain chiropractor Laurel, MD patients recommend can help.
How Do You Sit?
Think about the position you are in when you are sitting? There is some basic positioning that is critical to good posture. These include:
- Feet should be flat on the floor with knees at a 90-degree angle.
- Shoulders, back, and buttocks should be against the backrest of the chair.
- Shoulders should be even and relaxed and not hunched forward.
- Knees should be level or a little higher than the hips.
- Body weight should be equally distributed across both of the hips.
- The chair should provide strong lumbar support and the backrest should fit into the user’s natural curve of their spine and supporting all spinal curves.
As a chiropractor Laurel, MD patients trust can also explain, it is never good for the back to sit for longer than 40 minutes at a time. When a person has an issue with chronic slouching, the discs that sit between and protect the vertebrae can herniate or begin to bulge. It is important to get up and stretch back and legs periodically. If possible, try to take short walks to alleviate this pressure.
Do You Need the Help of a Chiropractor?
Unfortunately, even if you follow this advice, you can still end up suffering from back or other issues, but a chiropractor can provide treatments that will help alleviate any pain and pressure result in overall better health. Some of the benefits a chiropractor provides include:
- Chiropractic treatment is natural. There are no medications or other chemicals that are required for treatments. Instead, spinal adjustments help restore the body back to a healthy state.
- Chiropractic treatment is safe. Treatment plans are developed for each individual patient based on their condition, age, and treatment goals.
- Chiropractic treatment is effective. The body’s nervous system controls everything that takes place in the body. When something is interfering with the way the nervous system communicates with the body – which spinal misalignment does – this can cause serious health conditions.
- Chiropractic treatment causes no negative side effects. In fact, any side effects of chiropractic treatments are good ones. We can all benefit from more energy, better coordination and balance, and longer endurance.
If you would like to meet with a Laurel, MD low back pain chiropractor and find out how chiropractic treatments can help you, call AmeriWell Clinics today to schedule a consultation.
One of the worst ways to start your day is getting out of bed and feel that nagging lower back pain. You can’t think of anything you did that would have triggered that pain to kick in, yet there it is again greeting you as you begin your day. A Laurel, Maryland lower back pain chiropractor knows that one of the most common causes of lower back pain is sleeping positions. Many people don’t realize that the position you sleep in can have a significant impact on lower back pain.
Choosing a Sleeping Position
Many of us have been sleeping in the same position for years, but as we age, the wear and tear our bodies have gone through – as well as just the normal effect aging has on our body – can make the back more at risk of pain when we keep on sleeping in these familiar positions.
When choosing a sleeping position, it is very important to make sure that your head, neck, and back are properly aligned and supported. If not, this can cause all kinds of back pain because there is stress being placed on your ligaments, muscles, and joints.
As a Laurel, MD lower back pain chiropractor can explain, each sleeping position does have an impact on your back:
- Back sleeping: Sleeping on your back is the best way to sleep in order to eliminate back pain. This is because you are not creating any stress on your spine and you are preserving the spine’s natural alignment. You can also put a pillow between your knees for extra comfort.
- Fetal position sleeping: This is one of the most favorite sleeping positions, with almost 50 percent of people saying they prefer curled up in this position each night. While the fetal position isn’t bad for your back, a chiropractor Laurel, MD patients trust can explain how this position can cause aches and pain in other parts of the body, especially in older people. A pillow between the legs can help alleviate hip or knee pain.
- Side sleeping: When you sleep on your side, you reduce your risk of developing back pain, but you must alternate each side. If you always sleep on the same side, you are creating an imbalance of the muscles which can trigger back pain. It is recommended putting a pillow between your knees, too.
- Stomach sleeping: Sleeping on your stomach is one of the worst positions for your back. This is because when you are on your stomach, you are arching your lower back, which can result in that lower back pain. You also can put a strain on your neck muscles and shoulders because of the way you are turning your head while you sleep.
If you cannot avoid sleeping on your stomach, it is recommended you put a pillow under your hips to help alleviate some of the arching of the back.
Contact a Laurel, MD Lower Back Chiropractor Today
If you are suffering from back pain that warrants more than just a change in sleeping positions, contact AmeriWell Clinics to schedule an appointment with a lower back pain chiropractor Laurel, MD families recommend and find out how we can help.
Take The First Step
If you’ve been injured in an accident as a result of recklessness, negligence, a defective product or other fault, you should be diagnosed and treated by an experienced chiropractor as soon as possible so that your health does not deteriorate, and you have the proof that you need to seek deserved monetary compensation.
Many times injuries are hidden, or are underestimated, so please call AmeriWell Clinics today for a free consultation at (301) 576-0500, or email us. We also provide free legal referrals to our patients who are suffering from accident-related injuries.