Back and Spine Health
At the Robotic Spine Institute of Las Vegas, a renowned spine surgeon in Las Vegas, NV, we believe in conservative treatment for most spine related issues.
Walking is an activity that can pay off in a big way for a multitude of reasons. Not only is it good for losing weight, but it can be great for those that suffer from joint pain. This is very helpful for those that suffer from lower or even upper back pain. Back pain is the single leading cause of disability across the globe [1].
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon either. There are estimates that as many as 80% of people will experience back pain at some point in their lives [1]. If you still aren’t convinced that you should add walking to your daily activities, here are some of the top reasons walking can be great for your back.
Reasons Walking Is Great For Your Back:
1. Better Flexibility Helps With Joint Pain
One of the major reasons it can be helpful to those that suffer from back pain has to do with the positive impact it can have on your joints. There have been numerous studies that showcase that walking can reduce arthritis-related pain [2].
Therefore, it’s a good option for those that are suffering from back pain caused by arthritis. Whether having limited mobility causes you to sit too often or you are forced to walk with a limp or poor posture, improving your mobility can pay off in a big way when it comes to solving your back problems.
2. Better Blood Circulation
Another benefit that you can get from incorporating more walking into your daily life is the ability to promote better blood circulation throughout your body. A lack of blood circulation and blood flow can result in a lot of issues that can contribute to the worsening of your back pain symptoms. Whether it’s reducing blood flow to your spinal muscles or the muscles surrounding and supporting your back, it can cause major problems.
It can even lead to inflammatory responses which can result in back pain. Thus, by incorporating more walking into your daily life, you can maximize blood flow throughout your entire back region. This can give your body the blood and nutrients it needs to flush out toxins and increase the supply of essential nutrients to your muscles.
3. Strengthen Muscles
When you spend too much time sitting at a computer desk, you will likely notice that you experience back pain much more frequently. While sitting with proper posture does help, you won’t be able to curb back pain without addressing it. Standing at periods throughout the day is a good idea. However, an even better idea is to get more walking throughout the day.
This way, you can decrease the pressure on your lumbar spine and strengthen the muscles that support your spine. This will in turn help you develop and sustain better posture while you are seated at your desk. Not only that, but it can improve the range of motion of your back. Without getting sufficient exercise, your muscles will tighten and they will weaken. All of these things will lead to a higher susceptibility to suffering from back pain.
Read: What to Know About Exercising After Spine Surgery
As you can tell, there are several reasons why walking is great for your back pain. If you are one of the millions throughout the world that suffers from back pain, you aren’t alone. Luckily, something as simple as walking can pay off to assist you in preventing the back pain from getting worse. Recommended by spine surgeon in Las Vegas, NV, walking can prevent other things from contributing to your back pain by keeping excess weight off with increased exercise.
References:
[1] https://www.acatoday.org/Patients/What-is-Chiropractic/Back-Pain-Facts-and-Statistics
[2] https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/5-surprising-benefits-of-walking
