5 Natural Ways to Relieve Back Pain

Back pain is something that nearly everyone will experience. Whether you have a blue-collar or white-collar job, you'll probably suffer from back pain at some point during your life. The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), in fact, states that 80% of Americans will experience back pain. The good news is that there are natural and drug-free ways to relieve back pain, some of which we're going to discuss in this post.

#1) Apply Ice and Heat

You can use both ice and heat to relieve back pain. Which one is best exactly? A good rule of thumb is to apply ice to your back during the first 24 hours of pain onset, followed by heat thereafter. Ice helps by inhibiting blood flow to the injured tissue, which in turn reduces inflammation when applied during the first 24 hours. Afterwards, however, applying heat is more beneficial because it stimulates blood flow to the injured tissue, thereby allowing it to heal more quickly.

#2) Maintain Your Posture

Poor posture is a common risk factor for back pain. If you slouch or otherwise carry yourself with poor posture, you'll have a greater risk of developing back pain. Therefore, you must maintain correct posture at all times to preserve the health and integrity of your spinal column. Whether you are sitting, standing or walking, be conscious of posture and try to maintain your spine's natural curvature.

#3) Walk More Frequently

It may sound counterproductive, but walking more frequently throughout the day can relieve back pain. If you spend most of your day sitting, your spine will become compressed. Standing actually reduces the amount of pressure on your spine -- more so than sitting. As a result, walking more frequently can relieve back pain.

#4) Stay Hydrated

Don't forget to stay hydrated. It's a little-known fact that dehydration can worsen back pain. If you are dehydrated, your joints will lose their natural lubrication. When this occurs, you may experience pain and inflammation in the joints of your spinal column. How much water do you need to drink to stay hydrated? Make a point to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of H2O per day.

#5) Get a Massage

You can get a massage to relieve back pain. Massage therapy has been used to treat back pain, as well as other physical injuries, for centuries, so you can rest assured knowing that it works. When you get a massage, your heart rate will increase, resulting in more nutrient-rich blood flowing to the inured tissue in your back.