According to the American Chiropractic Association, 31 million Americans experience low-back pain at any given time. Your lower back can hurt because of overuse, muscle strain, or injury to the muscles, ligaments, and discs that support your spine. Many people find relief from symptoms of back pain with pain medication or pain killers. But the best thing you can do for your back is try to avoid pain in the first place.
• Maintain a healthy diet and weight. Added weight puts pressure on all parts of your skeletal system, including your spine.
• Warm up or stretch before exercising or other physical activities, even cleaning the house.
• Stand tall. Using a mirror, align your ears, shoulders, and hips. Proper posture will place your ears loosely above your shoulders, and above your hips. Although these points make a straight line, but the spine itself curves in a slight 'S'. Now imagine a string on the top of your head pulling you upwards.
• Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes that won’t throw your spine off balance.
• Sleep on a mattress of medium firmness to minimize any curve in your spine. Some doctors recommend lying on your back with a pillow under your knees.
