Has your back doctor Plano TX been seeing you a little bit more often than usual? If so, you’re just joining the millions of other people in the U.S. suffering with back pain on a regular basis. Is it possible that your lifestyle and daily routine are sending you to the doctor?

Absolutely. Here are five normal things that cause you back pain.

1. Sitting Down

You don’t have to be participating in unhealthy workouts to cause extra back pain---it can happen in your office or at the dinner table. Prevention.com claims that sitting puts 40% more pressure on your spine than standing. Who would have known?

Chances are, you aren’t thinking about using great posture all day at the desk, though. Here are some tips:

• Don’t “hunch” your shoulders at your computer
• Make sure the curve of your lower back is supported (maybe put in a request for a new chair!).
• Periodically lean back, or takes walks every half hour (within reason, of course).

2. Driving

Along the same lines as point #1, your daily commute may be causing you some extra back pain.Prevention mentions that an outstretched leg can cause extra pain in the lower back, so be careful about how far you sit from the steering wheel.

Also, keep your back straight while you drive---failure to do so may lead to the “hunched” shoulders we mentioned before!

3. You Forget to Work Out (Or Choose Not To)

Believe it or not, there are some really great exercises out there that will ease your back pain and keep you away from the back doctor Plano TX. Whether you do those exercises or not though, you can contribute to your back pain by failing to exercise at all.

Even something like taking a brisk walk for 15-20 minutes can really relieve tension in your back---a necessary thing after a long day at the office. Unfortunately, plopping down on the couch to watch TV after a long day at a desk only aggravates your back further.

The good news is that each of these problems is easy to fix. Any back doctor Plano TX would probably suggest that you get up and move around at least a couple of times per hour at work, and regular exercise benefits far more than just your back. You don’t even have to exercise much to stay healthy---20 or 30 minutes will work. There are plenty of inexpensive lumbar support mechanisms for the car, too, so you don’t have to aggravate your back pain by driving.

Have more questions about back pain? Feel free to reach out at (972) 943-9779, or set up an appointment to stop by.