Back pain affects 80% of people at some point in their lives, and for many, it can become chronic. In this episode of To Your Health Podcast, I’m joined by Amanda Harris, an Exercise Physiologist specializing in lower back pain. Amanda shares her insights on overcoming back pain and preventing it from returning, providing valuable advice that can be applied to anyone struggling with or aiming to avoid back issues.
Key Takeaways:
Understanding the Root Causes of Back Pain:
Amanda explains how back pain often results from a combination of factors, including improper movement patterns, weak muscles, and a lack of mobility. Understanding these causes can help you take action to improve your back health.
Importance of Core Strength:
A strong core is essential for protecting your back. Amanda shares how strengthening your deep core muscles helps stabilize the spine and prevent pain.
Movement and Stretching:
Regular movement in various directions—side to side, twisting, and reaching—is key to maintaining a healthy back. By incorporating a range of motion into your daily routine, you can reduce stiffness and discomfort.
Nervous System and Back Pain:
Your nervous system plays a significant role in how your body responds to pain. Amanda explains how stress, tension, and emotional factors can contribute to chronic pain, and how addressing the nervous system can aid in recovery.
Actionable Tips:
- Focus on strengthening your core muscles to support your spine.
- Integrate different movements and stretches into your day to maintain mobility.
- Drink plenty of water to keep your muscles hydrated and flexible.
- Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques to address the nervous system’s role in pain.
Conclusion:
Amanda’s advice emphasizes that back pain doesn’t have to be a permanent part of your life. By understanding its causes and incorporating simple exercises and lifestyle changes, you can overcome and prevent back pain. Tune in to this episode to learn more about keeping your back healthy and pain-free.
Listen to the episode:
Amanda Harris
Being mentored by and actively collaborating with some of the top surgeons, neurologists, manual medicine physicians, and physical therapists in the Mid-Atlantic over the past 25 years has given me a unique perspective on how the human body “should” move and how that movement can also “heal”. By identifying faulty movement patterns, and using gentle movement and exercise to correct them, we can free ourselves from back pain, and go on to live healthy, active lives. I also have a Master’s Degree (M.Ed.) in Exercise Physiology from the University of Virginia, am a certified Medical Exercise Specialist through the Medical Exercise Training Institute in Houston TX, and am a certified RedCord Active Specialist through RedCord International.
Website: re-kinect.com
Youtube: @Re-Kinect
Facebook: @rekinectrva
Lower Back Mastery: https://courses.re-kinect.com/Lower-Back