As we get older, the risks for certain problems increase exponentially: back pain being one of them. Whether you’re a regular exercise junkie or a once-a-month jogger, back pain can affect us all at some point. The back contains a large portion of our nervous systems and other vital parts of the body. The risk of injury to a portion of our backs over time is likely; however, there are ways to stave off this problem. Before you need stem cell therapies performed by the medical professionals at ThriveMD, here are four ways to help prevent that pesky back pain.

Stretch

“A lion doesn’t stretch before it hunts a gazelle.” A phrase said by those who don’t worry about getting injured during exercise. The benefits of stretching before exerting physical force are abundant, used by the majority of professional athletes, coaches, and trainers. By warming up your muscles and adding flexibility, the likelihood of tearing and damaging your muscles goes down significantly. An uncooked pasta noodle breaks much easier than a cooked one.

Fluids and Electrolytes

Our bodies are a majority of water and other fluids. Having the proper amount in our body is important to function properly. Also, essential minerals called electrolytes reside in our body fluids. These minerals help deliver electromagnetic signals to our muscles and other parts of our bodies, allowing them to contract and function. Having proper levels of fluid and electrolytes helps your muscles function properly, meaning safer and less-accident prone workouts.

Use Proper Technique

“Lift with the legs, not the back” should be on every piece of equipment in a gym because it’s very essential. Certain exercises can have more negative effects upon your back if executed improperly — squats, deadlift, etc. Before attempting any of these exercises, make sure your form is correct for every single rep. Film yourself or ask a partner to examine your technique. Being sure to not lean or use your back to “cheat” the weight is important: it’s better to fail a rep than to risk a permanent back injury.

Avoid Extra Heavy Weight

At some point in our lives, some men have wanted to squat 315 or more just to say we’ve done it or just to show off to our friends, it’s quite the achievement to be sure. However, if you’re not an athlete or training to be a professional weightlifter, regularly lifted excessive amounts of weight can be detrimental over time. Over course, wanting to be strong is a worthy goal, but squatting 350 regularly increases your odds of risk. Here are some extra ways to avoid common sports injuries.