Running with a Bad Back
I’ve never seen a chiropractor before, but considering I do have a history of back problems, I probably should. First of all, I slouch…all the time! I know it’s bad and every now and then when I know I’m doing it, I will straighten up. But only for a few seconds, really. In meetings, sometimes I’ll lay really low on the chair, so it makes it look like I’m bored (which I’m usually not). I run pretty often too, but I never stretch before or after a run (even though I know you’re supposed to). My friend mentioned that not stretching your hamstrings can actually be bad for your back since they’re connected through various muscles. She told me a few hamstring stretches that should help, but I have yet to do those stretches.
At some point all of these issues will become major problems and I will have to see a chiropractor. The good thing is that there are plenty of chiropractors around, some work specifically with runners like the Nashville Spine and Sport Chiropractic Center. I have never been one to take preventative measures to avoid certain problems, although hopefully I’ll make that a New Year’s resolution to start doing.
I was talking to a coworker who recently purchased a yoga ball / chair combo for her desk at work. She said something to the effect that it has changed her life by switching to that type of chair. I recall a few years ago at another company I worked for, they had a few yoga balls for employees to sit on every now and then. I actually used it a few times, but I doubt it changed my life when I was using it. I think sitting on a yoga ball is a good way to work out your core while you’re sitting, but you still have to be aware of yourself to make sure you’re not slouching. I might ask my coworker and see if she’d let me try to use the yoga ball / chair every now and then. But like I said, it probably is more helpful if I just pay attention to my back and make sure not to slouch so often.
Sometimes I’ll walk up to other people at work to ask them something. I always notice most of them have very good posture and are sitting upright, which I’m very jealous of. But I’m sure that is from years of practice and making sitting upright a habit. I remember when smartphones weren’t as popular, one ‘app’ or gadget was one that would warn you if you were slouching. It basically used the accelerometer in your smartphone and you wear the smartphone around your neck with a lnayard. So if you ever slouch, the phone would know that your back is not straight by then angle your phone was at. I thought that was a pretty neat idea, although you’d probably look like a fool wearing a smartphone around your neck. But who knows, maybe that’ll be the next fashion trend in the industry.
When my friend told me about the hamstring stretches, she also taught me some back specific workouts and stretches. They were pretty basic, I remember one you kind of just lie down on your back with you legs up and you kind of just tighten your stomach muscles by controlling the way you breathe. It felt very weird to do, but it seemed to help. So I think a combination of those back exercises and hamstring stretches, as well as just paying attention to my posture, I’m sure I could fix these issues in no time!
