Common Habits Leading to Pain

While aches and pains will happen to all of us at some point, there are some people who deal with chronic or serious pain day in and day out. Of course, many people don’t stop to think about how certain habits or choices could actually be causing their pain or making it worse. Could your lifestyle or everyday activities play a role in your pain? Let’s find out!

You Carry Around a Heavy Bag

Do you often carry a heavy bag or briefcase to work or school? Is the bag typically worn on just one shoulder? While it might look stylish to sport a beautiful leather briefcase to work if you overload that bag and favor one arm over another this can lead to a muscular imbalance in the shoulders.

Opt for bags that can be worn over both shoulders and try and remove anything that you really don’t need. You shouldn’t be carrying around more than approximately 5 percent of your body weight around in your purse or bag. If you are, it’s time to reduce the burden to improve your muscular health.

You Have Bad Sleeping Habits

If you are someone who tosses and turns throughout the night and wakes up with a stiff neck, back pain or other discomforts, then you may want to consider how your sleeping positions, your pillows, and even your mattress could be affecting your musculoskeletal health. You want your spine to remain in alignment while you are asleep, so it’s best to opt for a pillow that will provide this support. If you are unsure about what qualities to look for, your osteopath can help make some insightful recommendations.

Not Wearing Proper Footwear

You may not realize it but the shoes that you wear could either improve or negatively impact your musculoskeletal health. Think about it: your feet are carrying around your weight all day long. Not wearing shoes that fit properly will affect your gait, which will lead to tendon, ligament and muscular dysfunction. If you are someone who is dealing with foot, ankle, leg or lower back pain, then your shoes could be to blame.

If you are dealing with persistent musculoskeletal pain and you can’t seem to find relief through at-home measures, this is a good time to visit an osteopath. An osteopath will be able to diagnose your condition and create a treatment plan that isn’t invasive and promotes faster, more efficient healing. Pain doesn’t have to be the norm. Osteopathy can help.