If you are in pain it is always good to be evaluated by a professional like Andrzej Strzalkowski, RPT or Ellen Teeter, AP, DOM. That said, if you have a chronic tendency to back pain there is much you can do to help yourself.  

1. Check Your Alignment Regularly - Are you slouched over a computer all day?  Do you stand with your back swayed and your hips forward (or behind) your shoulders? Poor posture puts stress on the neck and the low back. When sitting place a small pillow behind your low back and put your feet up on box to encourage you to lean back slightly rather slouching forward. Check your standing posture along a wall.  For more from the Mayo Clinic on checking your posture click here.

Support your back and 

it will support you!  

Here are some great tips from Web MD. Our yoga teacher Brook Longobardi, RYT is teaching yoga for back pain at our Wellness Wednesday on September 4th.  This class will get you started on a great routine - sign up today!

3. Breathe deeply and consciously.  Deep breathing improves circulation, relaxes muscles and oxygenates the body. Several new studies show it relieves back pain (and other pain).  For some more tips on this click here.

4. Drink Plenty of Fluids - Dehydration can rob the discs between the spinal vertebrae of their cushioning ability, decreasing the space and making injury more possible. Water with a splash of fruit juice hydrates the body and provides electrolytes to keep you in balance.   

5. Get Regular Massage - a 10 week course of massage therapy was shown to be effective for chronic low back pain. In this study "Over two-thirds of those in the massage groups had significantly better back function at 10 weeks compared to just over one-third in the usual care group"  

7. Receive a Series of Osteopathic Treatments

We are here to help.