Easy moves to beat back pain

There's practical stuff you can do at home to help case discomfort, says fitness guru Annie Deadman.

- Annie Deadman

Health

Looking at how much time we spend sitting in cars, at laptops and on the sofa, it’s no wonder that back pain is the single biggest cause of work absence. Wow, I sound like my mother. Hold on, let me start that again. Daily back pain is a debilitating condition that can lead to a referred pain popping up somewhere else, causing low mood, anxiety and a thoroughly ratty disposition. This affects quality of life for you and your family. So, let’s see what we can do for ourselves, with regards to the come-and-go sort of everyday low-level ache (rather than specific injuries caused by accidents).

Tip!

Alongside these four points of action, it’s worth looking at your stress levels, the quality of your sleep and posture as you sit – as these can all chip away at your wellbeing. But, above all, take charge of your symptoms, remain positive and stay active.

First, we need to respect and be aware of our bodies. Sounds a bit la-la, but consider how the spine holds us upright all day. It’s a stack of 33 bones (vertebrae), which, with its network of muscles, ligaments and tendons, permits movement in all directions, while protecting the spinal cord. The lower (lumbar) region absorbs the force of our lifting and carrying, and the upper (thoracic) area has to tolerate our awful posture slouching over laptops and phones.