Low back pain affects hundreds of thousands of people each year. Unfortunately, statistics point out that almost everyone, at some point in their lifetime, will experience low back pain. We may not be able to completely prevent all possible occurrences of it, there are many things we can do. We will look at some of the practical preventative tactics such as diet, posture, lifting and massage chair therapy which can help to minimize the possibility of low back pain or speed its recovery.

Let us start with diet. One principal reason that many people experience the pain and discomfort of a low back injury is because of the Standard Western diet, high in fats, processed foods and sugars. This is a major contributor to the increasing rates of obesity in society. Obesity along with decreased amounts of exercise has led to an increasing number of people who suffer from low back pain.

One important area to look at is reducing the stress on your back in your daily activities. Simple activities like sitting and standing and lifting can directly affect your spines health. You must learn the correct ways of lifting, sitting and standing. If these activities are done incorrectly then they will put extra stress on the lower spine.

Sitting and standing also helps to reduce the risk of having upper back pain. Many people find that they sit with their shoulders slouched forward which places much more strain on the muscles of the upper back. This can be corrected by learning to hold your shoulders back and sit straight. This protects the spine.

Another key area of prevention is learning proper lifting techniques. Lifting applies to all sorts of objects, not just heavy lifting. Most people lift by bending over which puts all the weight and strain directly on the lower back. The lower back was not designed for this type of lifting. Instead use your legs by bending your knees. Let your legs do the lifting because these are the largest and strongest muscles you have.

Exercise is another great preventative practice for low back pain. Start with a stretching course for the muscles. You can then do light exercises. Just going for a walk for 20 minutes can contribute greatly to good spine health. This will help to strengthen the muscles of the back as well as your heart.

The key to good spine health is muscles that retain their elasticity. Massage chairs are very helpful to massage the muscles. Massage chairs can penetrate deeply into the muscle tissues for soothing relaxation. Massage therapy helps to keep the muscles flexible and retain their elasticity. Massage chairs also have heating elements which can be used to help reduce swelling as well.

One often overlooked area is your sleeping position. We spend between 5 and 8 hours sleeping. This is most likely more time than we spend doing almost anything else. Avoid sleeping on your stomach which will increase the stress on your lower back. Instead sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees. Another position is on your back with a pillow under your knees. Another relieving position is sleeping with a small towel rolled up under their lower back is comfortable.

We are very dependent on our spine for our mobility. It is important to take preventative actions to keep it healthy. If you do suffer from low back pain then it is important to strengthen the lower back. Check with your physician as to how you can prevent low back pain in your situation. Ask your physician about diet, exercise, sleeping position, massage chair therapy and proper lifting techniques. Massage chairs can be a great tool to help you maintain the ideal health of your spine.