Help Relieve Back Pain with These 5 Fixes

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Long days on your feet can cause some serious back pain. For spa employees such as estheticians and massage therapists, this can impair their ability to provide good service. In an article for the Cleveland Clinic, wellness pain management specialist, Dr. Hong Shen, provided five wellness fixes to curb back pain, which can be adopted by spa employees to increase their health and longevity. 

1. Use food to fight inflammation.

Eat fruits and vegetables in a variety of colors. Choose high-quality lean meats for protein and eat beans in moderation as high quantities can increase glucose levels, said Shen. Do your best to eliminate processed foods from your diet, and eat healthy fats, such as wild salmon, olive oil, coconut oil and avocado.

2. Manage stress.

As we all know, some stress is unavoidable and we probably spend a good portion of the day working on the physical toll stress takes on our clients. Consider talking with a therapist about starting cognitive-behavioral therapy, which can help change the way we react to stress. Additionally, studies have shown that meditation can reduce stress and pain, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).

3. Sleep

Sleep loss can exacerbate preexisting conditions, so practicing good sleep hygiene is an important tool in managing pain, said Shen. Avoid blue light from smartphones and TVs for one hour before bedtime. Try to maintain the same sleep/wake schedule even on days off. Meditation and melatonin supplements can also help.

4. Exercise

Making physical activity a habit can ease pain and help with recovery. Even small increases in daily activity can bring big improvements.

“Motion is lotion for your back,” said Shen.  

5. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a technique in which practitioners stimulate specific points on the body—most often by inserting thin needles through the skin used in traditional Chinese medicine. Results from a number of studies suggest that acupuncture may help ease types of pain that are often chronic, such as low-back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis/knee pain. It also may help reduce the frequency of tension headaches and prevent migraine headaches, according to the NCCIH.

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