During human evolution, going back several million years, you will find our ancient ancestors were much smaller and walked, almost completely, bent over. So much so they were nearly leaning on their hands. Scientists believe that we evolved from animals that at one point walked on all fours. It makes sense based on the way our spines and backs are put together.
Walking upright puts a large amount of stress on our spine and the cartilage between our vertebrae. When you add in the twisting, bending and awkward motions that we put our back through, there’s no wonder our spine is often at risk of being injured. Because we do walk upright, we will always be at some risk of experiencing back and spine problems. We need to actively do things that help us relieve the stress on the spine and avoid spinal injuries.
Get Massages
There are many muscles that are constantly pulling on the back and spine. Some muscles are located in the back, while others are found on the sides and front of your body. Lifestyles today require people to work longer and harder putting them in higher stress environment. When people are in distress their muscles tighten, particularly if they are sitting for long periods. A few of the main areas where this muscle tightening will occur is the back, shoulders and neck. All of these areas connect directly to your back and spine. Muscle tightening can cause problems for your tendons, cartilage and joints. It can also pull your bones out of alignment causing injury and severe pain.
Massage therapy is an ideal undertaking to help relieve tense muscles. A massage therapist is a licensed professional who understands how the body, and it’s muscular system, works. A massage therapist can focus in on specific muscle groups and get them to relax. This process will relieve stress on your back muscles and spine helping you avoid injury and pain. A back massage will specifically focus on these muscles. a massage therapist will also concentrate on other areas as they are all connected via muscles throughout the body.
Take a Break
A lot of people enjoy working hard, playing hard and living their life to the fullest. Although there’s nothing wrong with this, the human body was not made to go full speed consistently for long periods of time without rest. When this occurs the body can physically and mentally break down and cause you serious issues. To avoid this we need to pace ourselves and make sure we have consistent breaks in between all the chaos.
When you decide to take a break, you should simply relax. Do not leave go on a 5-day trip of extreme skiing. This will only further the stress on your body. You want to do something relaxing. Get some extra sleep, have a spa, lie on the beach, go fishing, the list goes on. These periodic breaks will allow the body and mind to reset and recharge. You will find that if you take these breaks regularly you’ll be more effective at work and a happier person too.
