Can you think of one of the most common reasons for missed work in today's corporate world?
If you think it's traffic - think again.
Low back pain is one of the main reasons people miss work and according to some studies, low back pain
costs employers well over $20 million dollars ANNUALLY because of missed days. To tell you the truth, low
back pain is nothing to play with.
Since the majority of your movements originate from your core, your lower back plays a pivotal role in
stabilizing your upper body when walking, running, walking up stairs, or any activity that requires your
body to stay upright.
Knowing that and being a former victim of lower back pain (stupid weightlifting accident when I was 18),
lower back pain can literally end your career in an instant. And if you have bills or investors to pay, you
certainly can't afford a day of missed work.
To help, here are a few tips to keep your lower back healthy in the workplace.
1. STOP SLOUCHING!
You knew that one was coming. Unnecessary slouching places undue stress on the vertebrae of the lower
back. This undue stress destroys the natural alignment of the spine and forces other stabilizer muscles to
work harder to keep you upright. (besides, slouching at your job can be a sure sign of laziness to your
boss). If your chair is uncomfortable and you feel the need to slouch, invest in an ergonomic chair. These
chairs are built specifically to keep your body in it's natural alignment so you won't feel the need to slouch.
And for crying out loud, if anything - slouching is just plain unprofessional.
2. Invest In An Exer-ball Chair
My clients hate them - but love the results. And you can benefit from these specially made balls too.
These balls are designed to create a base of instability underneath you. This lack of stability forces the
weaker points of your posture to compensate and get stronger so your posture will improve. Not only
that, but during your lunchbreak, you can knock out a few sets of crunches to help improve your core
stability. Speaking of which..
3. Strengthen your abs
This is a biggie so I want you to watch this....
Your abs and lower back balance each other out when it comes to spinal stability. If your abs are weak,
you'll have a greater chance of lower back pain. In my twenties, I never realized just how important
strong abs are. I noticed anytime I worked my abs, I kept a nice six-pack and I thought the only benefit
was the ooohs I'd get from ladies at times. But, I noticed that if I spent more time typing and writing
instead of working out and neglecting my abs, my lower back would begin to tighten and ache. Well, I
learned that lesson FAST. And speaking of training abs..
4. Train Your Abs, But Don't Neglect Your Assisting Muscles
Remember, your core is not your abs alone. Your core consists of your abs, upper thighs, obliques, lower
back and glutes. Try to train with movements that involve all of these muscles. A good example would be
the 'plank'. Lie on the floor on your stomach and raise your body so the only points of contact you have
with the ground are your elbows and toes. It's a toughie, but a good one to strengthen the core.
Gymnastic exercises like 'v-ups' are great for conditioning the core also. I swear by those.
Taking care of your lower back will not only keep your healthy by will also keep your productivity high.
Henry Lee Smith, Jr. is a Las Vegas fitness expert and author of the informative "Strategic Fitness Newsletter". To find out more about his effective methods for fat-loss and more receive FREE tips like these, visit
his website at http://www.strategicfitnesssystems.com
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