Keeping your Back Healthy

Here are a few tips from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke:

• stretch and warm tissue before exercise or other strenuous activities.
• practice good posture. Avoid slouching when sitting or standing.
• when standing, keep weight balanced on both feet.
• follow good ergonomics in the workplace. When sitting for long periods of time, rest feet on a foot support. Make sure your chair and work surfaces are at the proper height. Get up and move around in between long sitting stints.
• avoid high-heeled shoes.
• watch your weight. Excess weight especially around the waist, can put undue stress on the lower back muscles.
• take vitamins and minerals
• don't lift items that are heavier than you can handle. Remember to lift with your knees, not your back. Pull in stomach muscles, keep your head down and in line with your straight back, and do not twist when lifting.
• get massaged. Using therapeutic bodywork can melt pain-inducing stress away from your back and the rest of your body.