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Five quick fixes for back pain

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss

As I described at length in a post on our partner blog, ParentDish, my parenting exploits have left me in a little pain these last few days. Apparently this is pretty common, as nearly 80 percent of Americans suffer back pain at some point in their lives. While this may come as no surprise, I was interested to learn that most soreness or spasms are triggered by seemingly innocuous, everyday activities.

Here's five simple, straightforward tips to help rid yourself of that discomfort.

1. Good posture is important, but you don't need to stand like a soldier -- this actually puts pressure on the spine instead of relieving it. Instead focus on being relaxed, and balanced.
2. Get corrective insoles to make sure your foot has the proper arch while walking.
3. Once you've achieved proper posture, talk a walk -- studies show this can relieve back pain.
4. Switch shoulders for your backpack, bag, etc -- even if it feels weird.
5. Take more breaks -- especially if you have a job that keeps you seated all day. Doctors recommend getting up and moving around every 45 to 60 minutes to prevent strain.

For more explanation, check out Alicia Porter's helpful article on Health.com.

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