What You Can Do Now To Avoid Chronic Back Pain

By Shandon Thompson, DC, CCSP

Spine & Sports Care of Loudoun

. http://www.ashburnspinecare.com/

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What You Can Do Now To Avoid Chronic Back Pain

Back pain interferes with work, with sporting and social activities, and all aspects of life. Many do not realize the importance of having a strong and healthy back until pain strikes. So what can you do to protect yourself and your family before back pain brings you to your knees?

First, stop smoking. It is believed that smoking damages the blood supply to the spinal discs and related structures in a manner similar to the effects smoking has on coronary arteries (the arteries that supply your heart with nutrition).

Other risk factors for lower back pain are a sedentary lifestyle and obesity. Physical fitness, including both aerobic exercise, such as walking 20-30 minutes every day, along with balance and strength training using activities like yoga, can decrease your risk for back pain. But, remember to consult with your doctor before launching into an exercise program.

And don't forget a healthy diet, including proper hydration with pure water. The discs of the spine are comprised of up to 90% water, so care for them well by remembering you are what you eat… and what you drink, too.

For those unfortunate to already have chronic back or neck pain where nothing much has seemed to help, there may yet be hope for you as well. An advancement has made a tremendous impact on individuals who have seen their primary physician, physical therapist, chiropractor, and even surgeon with little or no results.

It's known as non-surgical spinal decompression therapy and can be very effective in treating those suffering from bulging or degenerative disc in addition to facet joint compression syndromes. It provides relief by gently reducing the pressure within the spinal disc and opening compressed spinal joints.

This is accomplished by a computerized table that slowly and painlessly provides a stretch to the spine. This stretching action pulls much needed oxygen, nutrients, and fluid into the injured and degenerative disc allowing healing to begin. Sessions typically last 20 minutes and most people feel pain relief with as few as 6-10 treatments.

Over the past ten years non-surgical spinal decompression therapy has been an advanced, effective, pain-free, and economical alternative for many people.