Dr. Oz's Back Pain Prevention Checklist

The most common causes of back pain are weight gain and bad health habits, like inactivity and smoking. Weight adds mores force across the body’s joints and muscles. This can, in turn, throw off spinal alignment resulting in problems like bulging discs, muscle strain and osteoarthritis. Lack of exercise and smoking can both cause accelerated disc degeneration and increased pain. If you’re currently a smoker, do the best thing for your overall health and quit. Follow Dr. Oz’s Kick the Habit Plan, a gradual and supportive process that will have you smoke-free in 6 months.

Dr. Oz’s Daily Back Pain Prevention Checklist

1. Get 7-8 hours of sleep per night. This allows your body the time it needs to repair itself. Click here to find the best sleep position for you and here for tips on improving your sleep hygiene.
2. Stretch for 10 minutes each morning. Try touching your toes from a standing position, or seated with your legs at a 90 degree angle to your body. This will help loosen tense muscles. Click here to view Dr. Oz’s Beginner Yoga workout. It has moves designed to strengthen and stretch your back, both of which will help to prevent back pain.
3. Watch out for weight gain. Added weight means added pressure to your lower back which leads to increased back pain. Follow Dr. Oz’s Ultimate Diet and reboot your system in just 2 weeks. Rethink the kinds and quantity of foods you eat to keep unwanted weight gain at bay.