I’m sure you’d agree that living with back pain can often feel like a full-time job. Thankfully, there are some things that have been proven to “lighten the load”. In this article, you’ll see why that’s more than a heavy-handed pun. Back pain and weight loss are very much connected and being aware of this relationship may be the first step on the road to relief.
Keep reading to learn more about weight problems and the toll it takes on your back.
Back Pain and Weight Loss
While there can be many causes for back pain, one thing is for sure: additional weight doesn’t help win the battle. Excess weight can distort the spine’s curve, putting additional strain on disks, ligaments, and muscles around the back. Carrying around even 10 extra pounds can put an additional 40 pounds of pressure on your spine. And if you’re 50 pounds overweight, that’s an additional 200 pounds of pressure! No wonder your back hurts!
Often, weight gain can be a primary cause of back problems, but if there are already existing issues, the additional weight could be another burden the spine has to deal with, thus adding wood to the proverbial fire.
Weight loss can help to relieve the excess strain on your back. But, believe it or not, the process of losing weight also has additional benefits to your back’s overall health.
The Benefits of Regular Exercise
Don’t tell me you didn’t see this coming! The first step is to be as active as possible. Walking, swimming, or running (back health permitting, of course) is ideal for shedding excess weight.
While it is important to not do strenuous exercises that will further increase back problems, aiming to strengthen your core muscles is essential to alleviating back pain. Taking the strain off of your spine by letting your muscles do the supporting—as it should be—is the first step to relief.
Carefully doing core strengthening exercises drawn from pilates or yoga can have life-changing results if done regularly and correctly.
Just remember to talk to your doctor first before starting a new exercise routine. Your doctor may even have some exercises that may help.
The Benefits of Healthy Eating
Exercise and a healthy diet are two sides of the same coin. Knowing the foods that are friend and foe to back problems is a vital piece of wisdom. For example, consumption of refined sugar can incite back problems as it causes inflammation in the body. Cutting out refined sugar from your diet will not only help you to shed weight but can also reduce overall soreness in your back.
Foods that are your allies are natural antioxidant-rich products. Avoiding processed foods will ensure that you are taking in as much goodness as possible. Plant-protein foods such as black beans along with fresh fruit and vegetables like cherries and broccoli can have as strong an anti-inflammatory effect as many pain-relieving drugs.
How to Lose Weight with Back Pain
Be aware that back pain and weight loss are not battles you have to struggle through on your own. Losing weight while suffering from back problems can feel like being stuck between a rock and a hard place. But finding professional support to lead you on the path to recovery is invaluable.
Receiving the right instruction for exercise and diet is key. And when times get hard, having a reassuring and encouraging hand can help you dust yourself off and keep going.
If you’re ready to drop some pounds to help relieve your back pain, contact us about our weight loss and pain relief programs and reclaim your life from the clutches of back pain.
