Care For Your Back
As we have said before, the muscles in your back are unlike
most other muscles in your body.
The difference is your back muscles are almost always in use
because they have to hold the main part of your body in an
upright position all day long.
Your back muscles have to get to work every time you pick
something up, whether it's a something small and light or or a
heavy concrete block.
They also support your posture while you are sitting and
they work through the night when you sleep.
The design of your back is based around Three Curves
These natural curves form an S-shape and when they are properly
aligned, your ears, shoulders, and hips form a straight
line.
Your back needs support from strong, flexible muscles,
otherwise it loses its three natural curves. Eventually, poor
posture leads to pain - especially lower back pain - and is an
indicator that more serious back injury is likely.
Maintain a Healthy Back with Exercise and RestIt
actually doesn't take much time to improve the strength and
flexibility of your back. In just 10 minutes a day, you can
perform a few exercises, which can prevent a lifetime of low
back pain!
Partial Sit Ups
This exercise strengthens your stomach
muscles:
- Lie on your back with both knees bent
and your feet flat on the floor.
- Slowly raise your head and shoulders off
the floor, keeping your hands across your
chest.
- Work up to 30 repetitions.
The BridgeThis
exercise strengthens your lower back:
- Lie on your back with both knees bent
and your feet flat on the floor.
- With arms lying at your sides, tighten
stomach muscles, squeeze buttocks, and slowly raise your
hips into the air.
- Hold for 5 seconds and and then slowly
bring the buttocks back to the floor.
Repeat 20 times.
The Wall Slide
This strengthens your back and leg
muscles:
- Stand with your back against a wall and
your feet slightly apart.
- Slide into a half-sit.
- Hold as long as you can; slide back
up.
Repeat 5 times.
Aerobic Exercise
Aerobic exercise also stretches and
strengthens the muscles that support your low back, which
combined with healthy eating can also help you maintain your
ideal weight. If you're overweight, the extra pounds add to the
strain on your low back. Aerobic exercise like walking, can
help you lose weight.
Proper Rest
The best position for resting the back
muscles is lying on your back on your living room floor with a
pillow under your knees and a rolled up towel under your neck.
You can also lie on your side in the fetal position— bend the
knees to reduce strain on the low back and put a pillow between
your knees, and under your head and neck to keep them
level.
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