Back pain is a common issue that affects people of all ages. While injuries and medical conditions are often to blame, every day habits can also contribute to discomfort and chronic pain. Recognizing these habits that can hurt your back is the first step toward protecting your spine and maintaining a healthy back.
In this blog, we’ll discuss some of the most common everyday habits that may be contributing to your chronic discomfort.
Habits That Can Hurt Your Back
It doesn’t take much to hurt your back. Sometimes, injuries result from something as simple as everyday activities. There are a few everyday habits that leave you more prone to back injuries, including:
1. Standing Up Too Straight
While it is essential that you stand up straight to avoid back injuries, being overly straight can also hurt your back. The natural curve in your spine is crucial in absorbing shock and distributing weight. If you stand too straight, you put yourself at an increased risk of injury while performing everyday tasks. While you may be tempted to stand overly straight, keep your shoulders pulled back with your ears over them to distribute your weight appropriately and protect you from back injuries.
2. Wearing Improper Footwear
The footwear you choose is important for traversing inclement weather conditions and looking your most appropriate at work. However, wearing the wrong footwear can hurt your back. Some shoes, like shoes with thin soles or a heel, can make it difficult to distribute your body weight properly. Improper weight distribution can lead to strain and sprains. If you want to protect your back from recurring injuries, it is best to wear appropriate shoes, like cushioned sneakers with arch support, if you are standing or walking for long periods.
3. Hunching Over a Desk
When you work a desk job, you may find yourself leaning over your desk as the day stretches on or as you become lethargic. While minor leaning isn’t going to lead to major back injuries, prolonged or frequent leaning can cause you to hurt your back. If you want to avoid these injuries, it is best to invest in an ergonomic desk set-up to maintain your best posture. Find a chair that provides adequate back support, and use wrist rests and monitor stands to keep everything at eye level and safe for your back.
4. Crossing Your Legs While Sitting
Crossing your legs while sitting may seem harmless, but it can cause pelvic misalignment and uneven weight distribution. Over time, this causes poor posture and strains the lower back, hips, and spine. It also affects circulation, increasing nerve pressure and contributing to discomfort or numbness. Prolonged leg crossing can cause muscular imbalances, especially around the hips and lower back, resulting in chronic pain. If you don’t want to hurt your back, sit with both feet flat on the floor, maintaining proper spinal alignment.
5. Not Sleeping Enough
Sleep is an essential part of boosting your overall well-being. Poor sleep reduces your body’s ability to repair muscles and tissues, leading to increased inflammation and muscle tension. This can cause stiffness and discomfort in your back. Additionally, inadequate rest affects posture and spinal alignment, as fatigue may lead to slouching or poor support while sitting or standing. Over time, chronic sleep deprivation can worsen existing back pain and contribute to long-term musculoskeletal issues. If you want to get plenty of sleep, make sure you’re in bed early and using an adequate pillow to provide essential support.
6. Driving Long Commutes
Much like sitting for prolonged periods of time isn’t good for your back, sitting in your car can also hurt your back. While it is difficult to control your commute, it is important that you try to avoid sitting in your car for extended periods if at all possible. If you do have a long commute, it is essential that you take time to stretch whenever possible. If you’re stopped at a red light or stuck in traffic, stretch your shoulders and neck to protect yourself against avoidable back injuries.
7. Smoking
When you think about smoking, you probably don’t think about how it can hurt your back. But, this action reduces blood flow to your spine, depriving spinal discs of oxygen and essential nutrients. This puts you at an increased risk of developing herniated discs and chronic back pain. Additionally, smoking slows your ability to heal, making it harder to recover from injuries. If you want to avoid this back pain and injury, it is best to give up this habit by transitioning to nicotine patches and utilizing helplines.
Address Back Pain at Muscle & Joint Chiropractic
No matter how you hurt your back, dealing with chronic back pain can be difficult. It may lead to increased stiffness and decreased mobility, which inhibits your ability to perform everyday tasks. But this back pain doesn’t have to last forever. With the support of an expert chiropractic team, you can strengthen your back muscles and eliminate chronic pain for good.
If you’re looking for a trustworthy team of chiropractors in Grantsville or Tooele, turn to our Muscle & Joint Chiropractic team for support. For years, we’ve provided comprehensive chiropractic care to patients across the Wasatch Front. Whether you’re experiencing minor aches or major pain, we’re here to help every step of the way.
If you’d like to learn more about how we can help after you hurt your back, don’t hesitate to contact us today.