The Connection Between Stress, Posture and Back Pain

If getting through life without stress is a goal, it’s possible that expectations have been set a little too high.

While it’s an excellent idea to limit stress as much as possible, it’s next to impossible to eliminate it completely. But is stress really that harmful? Or is it more like poor posture or back pain … an inevitable part of life that is uncomfortable but relatively harmless in most cases?

Actually, these three common ailments can bring about a bit of pain and ill health to life. And it’s also possible that they feed off of each other. If you live in an environment, where stress, bad posture, and back pain are rampant, take a look at how they are connected and what you can do to feel some relief.

Improper Posture Complications

First, it’s important to understand where bad posture originates. Most people have great posture as kids, but it suffers greatly with age. This could be from poor habits, such as excessive TV time or inactivity, or it could be from long commutes and hours spent in desk chairs. Once poor posture is a habit, it pulls on the shoulders, rounds the upper back, and can cause restrictions in the vertebrae of the spine. All of these contribute to pain and discomfort that are hard to correct without assistance.

Posture and Stress

Stress may come about from various places in life including work, family situations, and finances. Once the body is stressed, it tenses. The tighter and more inflexible the body becomes, the more difficult it is to regain a relaxed, proper posture. When combined with a posture that is already suffering, the symptoms that come with either, such as body pain, headaches, and insomnia, can intensify.

The Connection Between Back Pain, Stress and Posture

Tension in the vertebrae, tense joints and muscles, and inflexibility in the body are linked to back pain, naturally. Both poor posture as well as stress can enhance back pain and make it feel stronger and occur more frequently. And without help in the causes of the pain, the three work in a frustrating cycle. Poor posture and stress lead to back pain, and then back pain forces poor posture and more stress.

Solving the Issues

One of the best things to do to alleviate stress and back pain, as well as regain good posture, is to change lifestyle habits. Exercise, strength training, and support devices all work wonders. Another great option is to get regular chiropractic care. Since residents of Houston are unlikely to escape work or long commutes anytime soon, it can feel as though back pain is here to stay, but it doesn’t have to be. Chiropractors can use spinal manipulation to release the tension in the spine and enhance overall health. Need a great place to go? Try The Joint Chiropractic. With walk-in visits and affordable pricing, getting care is easier than ever. There really can be an end to the cycle mentioned above, and it may begin with a quick trip to The Joint today.

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 . 

Additional Topics: Preventing Spinal Degeneration

As we age, it’s natural for the spine, as well as the other complex structures of the spine, to begin degenerating. Without the proper care, however, the overall health and wellness of the spine can develop complications, such as degenerative disc disease, among others, which could potentially lead to back pain and other painful symptoms. Chiropractic care is a common alternative treatment option utilized to maintain and improve spine health.

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