Tips for managing lower back pain - centraljersey.com

Did you know that 80% of adults will suffer from lower back pain at some point in their lives?

Dr. Parikh understands that if you have lower back pain, your first instinct may be to lie in bed or sit for long periods of time.

"This can result in severe stiffness and a long-term increase in pain," he says, noting that prolonged bed rest can result in a daily loss of about 1% of muscle strength.

"The sooner you start moving or even doing light to moderate exercise, the faster you may improve overall." Maintaining physical activity is critical for treating and preventing back pain.

"At its most basic level," he explained, "that means standing, walking, and limiting sitting/lying down throughout the day."

"However, if you really want to push your body, try incorporating aerobic activity like jump roping, jogging, dancing, or even kickboxing." Heat therapy, according to Dr. Parikh, helps relax muscle tissue and relieve back pain.

"With respect to their pain complaints, many patients need to take a personalized approach to heat or ice," he said.

"This one is a little tricky because stretching is extremely specific to each patient," Dr. Parikh said, "but if your physical therapist or trainer gave you specific stretches to do daily, make sure you're doing them." Excess weight around the mid-section can be especially taxing on your lower back.

Sugary drinks, processed snacks and baked goods, high-fat dairy products, restaurant take-out, and fried food are all foods to avoid when it comes to overeating.

Visit HackensackMeridianHealth.org/BackRehab or call 732-897-BACK if you're suffering from back pain.

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