Sitting too long in the same posture without stretching, standing for too long, repetitive movements with a bad posture… all of this compound and put pressure on the spine causing issues that can become chronic if untreated.
If your job involves sitting for too long, there are some steps you can take to prevent and treat back and neck pain: of course, keeping a good posture is crucial, and using a posture corrector that takes the strain off your back and neck is a good first step, especially if you work in a profession where you need to carry weights or bend over often.
Stretching every once in a while is also crucial: not only does it help loosen your muscles, but it also helps take the pressure off your joints and the discs that hold your spine together (which tend to get compressed, and could even become damaged, when sitting for too long). Additionally, stretching your neck and back often can help you get rid of stress which is another cause of back pain.
There is yet another tip to help keep back pain at bay that is especially useful for those that are forced to sit for hours on end, without being able to stretch and move around: comfortable, supportive cushions.
Cushions: the freelancer’s best friend
If you suffer from back pain on the regular and your lifestyle doesn’t allow you to take stretch breaks, that is OK: there are ways to change your lifestyle to keep the back pain issues to a minimum.
If you are a freelancer, a throw pillow made out of shredded memory foam can do wonders to provide extra support, keeping your spine in a more comfortable position and taking pressure off of your discs.
In addition to the throw pillow made out of shredded memory foam for your office chair, you can start sleeping with a wedge pillow in your bed. Depending on which area you use it a wedge pillow can keep you in a position that elevates your back or your legs (or both) which will relieve your back muscles from the strain they might bear during sleep (as a lot of us don’t sleep with our spine properly aligned, which might worsen the back strain we suffer during the day.)
Not only that, but wedge pillows are exceptionally good for other issues too: tired legs, acid reflux, and even stop you from snoring!
