Back pain is something from which millions of people suffer, and just thinking about it can be stressful enough to cause even more back pain.

The causes of back pain are as numerous as the cures, but this article has some simple ideas you can use to successfully combat back pain.

1. Put a towel behind your back. Your back pain might be caused, or at least exacerbated, by poor posture. If you find that you are sitting for long periods of time, try rolling up a towel. Place this behind the small of your back while you are sitting. It can improve posture and alleviate back pain.
2. Use your legs whenever you lift anything. You have to have a strong base with your legs and your body needs to be even. Hold the object you are lifting up close to you as you lift from your legs. This will help prevent any back injury that might occur.
3. To avoid back pain later, always remember to stretch your muscles before and after strenuous physical activity. If you need to bend and lift a lot at work, make sure to stretch your muscles and lift with your legs, not your back. Do this to avoid future back pain.
4. Make sure you’re maintaining a proper weight. If you’re overweight, particularly if that weight is in your upper body, you’ll be putting a lot more pressure on your back and spine. By keeping an optimum weight, you’ll make sure you’re not putting too much stress on your back and spine.
5. Be careful when lifting. Always use proper posture when lifting. Lift from the knees. Lifting heavy object improperly can really do quite a number on your back. To avoid causing potentially permanent damage, use caution. If the object is too heavy to lift request assistance or use a moving dolly.
6. Stop slouching and practice good posture, even when doing housework. Vacuuming is a good example because you are constantly pushing and reaching. Stand up straight and with good posture pushing the vacuum with your legs and not your back so as to avoid causing pain.
7. In order to minimize back pain cause by injured or strained muscles, apply ice to the injured area. Although heat may feel better on the skin, it does nothing to reduce the inflammation, which is what is causing the back pain. Ice, however, will help reduce the swelling and inflammation. Reducing the inflammation relieves back pain.
8. Try not to stand for long periods of time. Doing this can cause a back injury because of all the strain that you are putting your body through. If you have a job that causes you to be on your feet all day, make sure to sit on your breaks, and when you get home you rest for a little.

The back of the human body is a complex network of muscles, so the causes of back pain can vary greatly.

However, success in treating back pain is always the same in the end: you feel better.

Keep the advice in this article in mind, and your back will start feeling better in no time.