Dr. Murray Smith’s Top 10 Reasons for Lower Back Pain (and How to Prevent It)

eastside chiropractic
Dr. Murray Smith relieves stress by pursuing his interests, like fishing.
0 Shares

 

By Kate Scriven

Dr. Murray Smith at Eastside Chiropractic enjoying his favorite past-time - fishing.
Eastside Chiropractic’s Dr. Murray Smith enjoying his favorite past-time – fishing.

Dr. Murray Smith has seen a lot of patients in his nearly 25 years serving Thurston County patients as an experienced chiropractor.  His practice, Eastside Chiropractic, has grown over the years to include experienced massage therapists, a licensed nutritionist, and most recently, another chiropractor to meet all his patient’s needs.

With this longevity comes a lifetime of knowledge about what most often lands patients in his office.  The number one complaint by far is lower back pain.  Through the years he’s seen nearly every reason for back pain and here shares his “Top 10” reasons from his patients.  Or, as Dr. Smith, with his quick wit and terrific sense of humor states, “The Top 10 Things that Keep Murray in Business!”

While Dr. Smith may crack a joke about these common areas of patient discomfort, he’s very serious about his commitment to helping patients heal, educating them about how to stay healthy, and ultimately away from the chiropractor’s office.

Dr. Smith’s Top 10 Reasons for Patient Pain

  1. Don’t Work Out – Yep, it’s as simple as that.  If you don’t move your body, keeping your muscles in shape and your joints mobile, you’ll usually end up with pain.  Dr. Smith isn’t asking patients to run marathons, just to include a regular routine of moderate physical activity in their daily lives.

    Guerilla Running Capital Lake
    Regular exercise helps tone core muscles, supporting the lower back.
  2. Lift Heavy Object Incorrectly – Helping your neighbor move?  Decided you could remove that old washing machine on your own?  Chances are the results include pain in the lower back with potentially lasting effects.  Learn to lift correctly.  Eastside Chiro’s patient care includes functional training on how to maneuver daily activities without injury.
  3. Own a Trampoline – Yes, it is fun.  It’s also a major cause of accidents and pain for many people that come through Eastside Chiro.  Think twice about your fitness level before taking a turn on the trampoline at the next backyard BBQ and maybe leave it to the kids.
  4. Go Snowboarding –Smith knows well that the fixed footed position of snowboarders causes a myriad of issues for those attempting the sport without proper training  and conditioning.  Know your limits before diving into a sport that may result in a longer relationship with Dr. Smith than you were planning.
  5. Ride a Quad – Again, it’s pretty fun.  But also pretty dangerous.  If you choose to ride an off-road vehicle do so safely.  Wear protective gear, don’t take unnecessary risks, drive sober, and ultimately, know your physical fitness level.  Without good core strength and tone for spinal support, a quad can do a real number on the lower back.

    gardening photos 004
    Be cautious of over-doing on the weekends, causing increased back pain.
  6. Have a Garden – I’m pretty sure that Dr. Smith wouldn’t say having a garden is bad for your health.  However, he sees the effects of weekend warrior-style gardening.  Again, know your limitations.  Use physical aids (weeding stools, power tools, strong friends!) to assist when heavy jobs are at hand.  Take on smaller chunks of work and don’t put in a 12 hour day in the yard when you’ve spent most of the winter tending the remote control.
  7. Overindulge in Alcohol – When the summer months of BBQs, boating and fun in the sun ramp up, so do the instances of alcohol related pain.  The lowered inhibitions after a few drinks may make you try risky behaviors you may not normally attempt.  Riding quads and jumping on trampolines often go hand in hand here.  Be cautious, be smart.
  8. Get older – Sadly none of us can avoid this one.  Age is an inevitable and common cause of increased pain and discomfort in our joints and spine.  While we cannot slow time, we can help mitigate its effects by staying active, drinking plenty of water, getting good rest.

    eastside chiro
    Eastside Chiropractic includes nutritional counseling services.
  9. Sleep on an Old Mattress or the Couch – We spend a large portion of each 24-hour period in our beds, resting and restoring our body for the next day’s activities.  If that sleep is compromised by a poor mattress, or worse a couch, it can seriously impact the amount of pain during waking hours.  Assess your bed.  Does it sag?  Is it more than 10 years old?  Do you have difficulty finding a comfortable position?  Might be time for an upgrade.
  10. Gain Weight – No one would say that gaining weight is a daily goal, however many of the choices we make each day add unwanted pounds.  Choosing healthy foods, walking instead of driving, drinking water instead of sugary drinks, and getting away from the screen are all daily choices keeping weight down.  Our spines were not designed to carry excessive weight and each pound over your optimum weight adds stress, resulting in pain.

Dr. Smith wants all his patients to be pain free.  And while he may joke about these 10 things that will keep patients coming through the door, his primary focus is to educate each one about how to stay far away from the Chiropractor’s office.

Back pain is avoidable.  Stay active, keeping your weight down and muscle tone up is the key for most people.  Increase flexibility with daily stretching.  Know your limits, avoiding activities that will cause pain.  It’s a simple prescription, but a proven one for a healthy life.

 

 

 

0 Shares