Ever notice how your body reacts when you’re stressed? Your stomach turns, your brain goes haywire, and your back and neck start aceh.
You’re not imagining anything — mental and physical health are closely linked, and it’s not uncommon for chronic stress to have a negative impact on your spinal health.
In this blog, Dr. David Wu and our team at CurePain take a closer look at this stress-spine connection and explore ways to help you keep both in check.
When you’re stressed, your body turns on its fight-or-flight mode and releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This biological defense system is incredibly helpful in certain situations, but it’s only meant to fire off in short bursts.
Chronic stress means you’re constantly in fight-or-flight, releasing a flood of stress hormones with no end in sight. One of the results of chronic stress is widespread muscle tension, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and back.
Over time, this tension leads to:
It’s important to note that stress doesn’t cause spinal conditions, but it can make them worse. Some of the most common conditions stress can exacerbate include:
The good news is that managing your stress can help relieve tension and keep your spine healthy.
Stress is a part of life, especially in our fast-paced modern lives. Instead of trying to eliminate all stress, taking small steps toward managing it is best.
Regular physical activity works on two levels. First, it releases endorphins, the body’s natural stress relievers. Second, it strengthens the back muscles, improves flexibility, and reduces painful muscle tension.
In addition to physical activity, we recommend starting a daily stretching routine to relieve stress and tension in your body and mind.
We encourage all our patients to be mindful of their posture. It’s easy: Try sitting up straight with your shoulders relaxed, head aligned, and feet flat on the ground. If you’re in a chair all day, make sure it’s adjusted so your spine is in a neutral position.
Relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation can help calm your nervous system and reduce muscle tightness.
You should also prioritize restful sleep. Make sure your mattress and pillow maintain proper spinal alignment so you can fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up with less back pain.
Even your best efforts can’t 100% guarantee a back pain-free life. So, when your back pain becomes persistent, it’s time to call in Dr. Wu.
We thoroughly evaluate your symptoms and medical history before recommending a treatment plan. Depending on your needs, we may include one or more of the following:
We also help you make healthy lifestyle adjustments, such as weight management and dietary changes, to maximize your treatment plan.
Don’t spend another day stressing about your spine health. Call our friendly staff or use our online booking tool to schedule a consultation at our Torrance, California, office today.
