Back Pain and Sleep

A good night's sleep is essential for our physical and emotional health.
Many studies have shown a poor night's sleep can have a detrimental effect on the quality of our lives whether work or play related.
If your sleep is ruined because you have back pain then the disturbed sleep is likely to affect your ability to recover from your back pain and you will possibly find yourself in a vicious unending circle.

During the day various actions and activities, such as lifting heavy objects, poor sitting posture at work or standing all day, are likely to have caused, or aggravated, already existing tension and stress in your back muscles and the body needs the sleeping or resting time to recover from this stress.

Often a major reason for a bad night's sleep is a poorly or badly supported sleeping position caused by using the wrong sleeping surface which can place additional stress on your back and neck - this is important and easily corrected by getting a good supporting surface to sleep on.

If you sleep on an uneven surface the spine will probably not be supported in its natural neutral alignment which can result in back discomfort and pain on arising.
The neck muscles may also suffer stress and tension if the curve of the lower back gets extended incorrectly.
So, one simple remedy worth looking into is the ideal sleeping position - one that allows the natural curves of the spine to be supported while sleeping.
A firm sleeping surface is usually highly recommended.

So a firm mattress or a bed board should be used when suffering from back pain.
If you prefer to sleep on your side, place a pillow under your head and another between your knees before bending them.
For the most beneficial sleeping posture if you sleep on your stomach, place a pillow under your abdomen and nothing under your head.

Back pain can make it hard to get a good nights sleep.
These simple actions can help minimise your back pain during the night, thus giving your body time to heal your stressed muscles.


AK Smith is a freelance writer and author.
This article will have answered some of your questions, select another category for further pain relief information.
For FREE information on a broad range of topics visit Can-I.co.uk and select your required category.

Remember; always consult your doctor before trying a new therapy.

DISCLAIMER:
This blog is NOT a medical advice service – always consult your doctor for specific advice.
The information in this blog is for informational purposes only and is in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of your doctor.
If you have symptoms or feel ill please see your doctor.

Back Pain Remedies

Natural Back Pain Remedies

Back pain is one of the most common conditions that people suffer in their life.
Statistics show that 4 out of 5 people will experience back pain at some time in their life.
Back pain relief is something that most of us will need at some point during our lifetime and there are many treatments known to reduce back pain, ranging from natural back pain remedies to very complex medical treatments and surgery.

Back pain can range from mild pain possibly caused by minor injuries to extremely severe pain due to significant injuries. Back pain symptoms might cause a person to feel some muscle tension and may even cause difficulty in standing up straight.

This article will cover some natural back pain remedies that can assist the body in reducing its pain.

Vitamin D

Some recent studies reveal that people deficient in vitamin D may be more vulnerable to back pain than those with recommended vitamin D levels.
Researchers think this may be due to the fact that lack of vitamin D causes the bones to become soft, making the sufferer more susceptible to back injuries.
Doctors suggest a daily dose of 400 to 800 IU of vitamin D for adults.

A major natural provider of vitamin D is, of course, the Sun, but caution should be exercised, as over-exposure of the skin to sunlight may bring other health dangers, such as skin cancer, but like everything in life, moderation is the key.

It is now generally accepted that darker skin is less efficient than lighter skin at converting the sun’s ultraviolet light into vitamin D, so those with darker skin are recommended to take higher amounts of vitamin D in their diet.
There are many readily available foods that can help increase the level of vitamin D in your body, such as, juices, fish, cereal, and milk.

Willow Bark Extract

Nature provides us with many natural back pain remedies.
One type of remedy is willow bark extract.
Willow bark extract contains Salicin which the body converts to Salicylic Acid.
This acid is effective at reducing muscle inflammation and discomfort.

Willow bark extract is regarded by many as natural aspirin - as the basis of aspirin is Salicylic Acid.
Many Research studies about the effectiveness of willow bark extract have concluded that people using it found a substantial reduction in muscle soreness and they stayed pain free longer after the treatment ended.

The above are only a couple of natural back pain remedies that can be adopted to reduce back pain.
If you suffer extreme pain, you need to see a medical doctor immediately.
Intense back pain can be a symptom of serious problems and ought to be addressed immediately by a doctor.


AK Smith is a freelance writer and author.
This article will have answered some of your questions, select another category for further pain relief information.
For FREE information on a broad range of topics visit Can-I.co.uk and select your required category.

Remember; always consult your doctor before trying a new therapy.

DISCLAIMER:
This blog is NOT a medical advice service – always consult your doctor for specific advice.
The information in this blog is for informational purposes only and is in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of your doctor.
If you have symptoms or feel ill please see your doctor.

Back Pain Exercises

Do you suffer from back pain? If you do, you are not alone.

Back pain is one of the leading reasons for people missing work throughout the world today.  It's also the cause of most work related injuries.
Back pain can affect anybody regardless of their occupation.  It doesn’t matter if you're among those with physically demanding jobs or if you work at a desk for a living.

The following exercises can help relieve your back pain and possibly aid you in avoiding pain altogether.

The best way to prevent back injuries is to be sure to stretch before lifting any heavy weights and if you can, start a weight lifting regimen to strengthen your back muscles.

It's also paramount that you keep in mind that the back muscles are of major importance in everything you do and back injuries can have very serious effects on your everyday life if they are severely injured, even through carelessness.  As with any other exercise program, please consult your doctor before starting these exercises for back pain relief.

These exercises target the lower back area, primarily, because this is the most common problem area.  The exercises should be done on a daily basis if possible.  Be certain to change the sequence from time to time to avoid boredom and to keep your interest up.

Side Bend

Standing upright with your arms at your sides and your feet slightly apart, bend your body to the left, running your left hand down the side of your left leg, whilst keeping your back straight.  Bend your entire upper body at the waist as far as possible without straining. Stay in that position for 5 seconds and then return to the upright position still running your left hand up the side of your left leg. Now repeat this routine on the right side of your body.  Perform this exercise 5 times.

Knee to Chest

Start the exercise by lying on your back on a flat surface.  Bend one of your legs towards your chest and hold your knee with both hands.  Pull your knee towards your chest while keeping the other leg and back flat against the floor.  Maintain this position for about 10 to 15 seconds, then lower your leg until it is flat against the floor.  Repeat this exercise with the other leg.  Repeat sequence 5 times.

Wag the Tail

Start by going face down on all fours.  Try to keep your shoulders still whilst moving your right hip slowly to the right as far as possible.  Slowly return to the starting position.  Repeat exercise to the left now. This is 1 repetition. Repeat exercise five times.

Upper Back Stretch

Using a stool, sit with your back and head against a flat wall.  Stretch your arms toward the ceiling and hold them up for 5 seconds.  Then, try to make your shoulders touch the wall.  Hold this position for another 5 seconds.  Lower your arms.  Repeat exercise 5 times.


AK Smith is a freelance writer and author.
This article will have answered some of your questions, select another category for further pain relief information.
For FREE information on a broad range of topics visit Can-I.co.uk and select your required category.

Remember; always consult your doctor before trying a new therapy.

DISCLAIMER:
This blog is NOT a medical advice service – always consult your doctor for specific advice.
The information in this blog is for informational purposes only and is in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of your doctor.
If you have symptoms or feel ill please see your doctor.