Chiropractic adjustments have deep-reaching benefits that aren’t limited to your spinal health. Chiropractic care can also help strengthen your entire body’s immune system. Regular trips to a trained chiropractor can help you live healthier by supporting the optimal spine and joint function.

At Pure Health and Wellness, we specialize in helping our patients restore and rejuvenate through personalized chiropractic care. Dr. Justin works with you to make the best choices for your health and body.

Read on to discover how chiropractic care can benefit your immune system and what a boosted immune system can do for you in your everyday life.

Your Immune System in Simple Terms
We know how important it is to protect ourselves, and you’re likely already aware that your immune system’s job is to fight off disease and bacteria. But did you know your immune system also helps support your daily health?

While your immune system’s primary role is to fight germs and bacteria, its secondary role is to protect all of your vital organs and tissues. There are two parts to your immune system:

• Your innate immune system. The immune system you’re born with is already prepared to fight disease and protect your health.  

 

• Your adaptive immune system. The immunity that builds over time. Exposure to toxins, disease-causing agents, and bacteria helps your body prepare for future threats. Vaccines also help develop your adaptive immune system.

The innate immune system consists of essential organs and tissues, like your skin and the mucous membrane that lines your respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.

The adaptive immune system develops over time through specialized cells called antibodies that know the genetic code of specific bacteria, diseases, and viruses.

So how does chiropractic care come into play?

Aligning Your Body
The root of chiropractic medicine is using spinal manipulation to achieve greater balance throughout the body. This balance is reflected in your nervous system, which communicates with every other part of your body. 

​Spinal misalignment can lead to:

• Chronically stiff and inflexible joints
• Pain, especially in the lower back
• Discomfort sitting, standing, or lying in certain positions
• Joint pain and mobility issues
• Poor range of motion
• A slouched posture and feeling “pulled down” by your body.

All of these issues can stem from compressed nerves. Poor communication between nerve cells leads to restricted function. Your immune system may be unable to effectively send antibodies and fend off pathogens the way it should.

By gently realigning the spine, you can improve the communication between nerve cells and possibly improve your immune system's function.

Lower Stress to Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation of the body’s tissues is a response to stress and disease. Too much inflammation increases your risk of damaging healthy cells and tissues. People with chronic inflammation are at a greater risk of cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, and asthma. Chiropractic adjustments help lower inflammation by improving blood flow and stopping neuropeptides. Neuropeptides are chemical messengers that can increase or decrease the firing of nerve cells. When you have too many neuropeptides in your system, your inflammation increases; high-stress levels can also trigger your immune system’s inflammatory response.

By reducing your stress levels and coaxing muscles into a relaxed state, you lower inflammation throughout the body while slowing the production of chemicals that cause it in the first place.

Optimize Your Spinal Health for Total-body Wellness
Every part of your body plays a role in your well-being. Your spine and alignment are among the most important features, as it correlates directly to your central nervous system. By improving your spinal health through routine chiropractic treatments, you can improve your body functions. This includes giving your cells the boost they need to communicate with your immune system.

Discover the Difference between Chiropractic Care
Contact Pure Health and Wellness today to learn how we can help you. Dr. Justin is eager to learn about your health goals and help you reach them through personalized chiropractic care.

Dealing with pain can often cause intense discomfort. Most people consider seeing a chiropractor when experiencing intolerable back and neck pain. There are several benefits to chiropractic care that go beyond pain relief. Regular visits to a chiropractor can improve your physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

What is a chiropractic adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is when a trained chiropractor manually adjusts the vertebrae in your back. This type of procedure, also known as spinal manipulation, can be an effective treatment in avoiding invasive surgeries or other costly procedures. Through chiropractic adjustments, your body can function efficiently by allowing your body to heal itself from the inside out.

Techniques chiropractors may use:

• Joint manipulation – A chiropractor manipulates the joints and muscles around the head to relieve pain in the head and neck associated with migraine.  

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• Massage therapy – A chiropractor uses massage therapy to help alleviate muscle pain, tension, and spasms that cause migraines. The chiropractor will use light pressure on the shoulders, neck, and back area.

 

• Traction therapy – Traction therapy is also used to help alleviate muscle pain, tension, and spasms that cause migraines. The chiropractor will use a table with two metal bars on either side of the patient’s spine for about 10 minutes per day for 3-4 days in a row.

Having regular adjustments may help avoid injuries from happening in the first place. Many people use chiropractic as a preventative approach, receiving regular maintenance even when not in pain.
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What are the benefits of chiropractic adjustment?
Everyone seeks chiropractic care for different reasons. Chiropractic care is one of the best methods for overall pain management while producing other positive mental and physical effects.

Chiropractic care can help patients with a wide range of health problems like headaches, asthma, back and neck pain, fibromyalgia, and chronic lower back pain. Chiropractors are trained in various techniques that will help your body heal itself from the inside out.

The top benefits of chiropractic adjustments include:

• Headaches & Migraine Relief - Headaches and migraines are caused by several factors, including a misalignment in the neck or spine. Chiropractic treatments can help improve blood flow, increasing oxygen supply to the brain.

• Pinched Nerve Relief - Chiropractors thoroughly understand your nerves and joints, allowing them to relieve pain from tension and pressure points in your body without invasive procedures.

• Lower Back Pain Relief - Chronic back pain affects over 80% of the population and is the most common reason people seek chiropractic care. Chiropractic treatments can improve alignment, ease pain, and restore spinal or joint movement.

• Reduce Inflammation - Inflammation is a leading cause of pain, joint issues, and tension. Chronic inflammation has been linked to diseases like heart disease, chronic pain, and cancer.

• Maintain a Healthy Blood Pressure - Chiropractic adjustments may be a good option if blood pressure medications give you unfavorable side effects. A study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension revealed that chiropractic adjustments could lower blood pressure. Adjustments have been known to help people dealing with low blood pressure and two medications.

• Improve Athletic Performance - Many professional and college sports teams employ chiropractors to help keep their athletes in top shape. Reducing inflammation, pain, and other similar conditions helps boost performance and helps keep players competing on the field.

However, you don’t have to be a professional athlete to enjoy the benefits of chiropractic care. Your joints, connective tissue, and ligaments change and deteriorate as you age. Chiropractic can improve joint mobility while reducing your chances of suffering joint and cartilage deterioration later in life.

Let us help you improve your quality of life.
Pure Health and Wellness can help you with pain and other disorders through effective chiropractic care tailored to your needs. We offer chiropractic care for people of all ages wanting to feel better faster, improve their health, and live pain-free lives.

Visit here to learn more about how Pure Health and Wellness can help you.

Suffering a car accident is a traumatic experience.

Even if you have been lucky and not suffered severe injuries, the aftermath can still be very tough to deal with. As well as dealing with paperwork, insurance claims, and car repairs, you may also find yourself dealing with unexpected pain and discomfort.

Many people suffer from hidden injuries after a car accident that may not reveal themselves until days, weeks, or even months later. And even without an injury, the trauma of the accident can lead to a whole host of problems, including headaches, neck pain, and back pain.

One of the best things you can do for your physical and mental health after a car accident is to see a chiropractor.

Here are seven reasons why:

1)  Drug-free pain management
After a car accident, you will likely be in pain, either from injuries sustained in the accident or from the whiplash effect that can cause neck and back pain. Many people turn to painkillers to help manage it, but these come with many problems and side effects, including addiction, gastrointestinal issues, and a long list of side effects. Chiropractic care provides a drug-free way to manage pain using techniques like massage therapy, spinal manipulation, and ice/heat therapy.
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2)  Non-Invasive Care
After a car accident, you may be facing the prospect of surgery to repair any injuries. However, timely and consistent chiropractic care can help to avoid the need for surgery. By realigning the spine, providing support to the injured areas, and establishing a rehabilitation plan, chiropractors can often help people heal without resorting to more invasive procedures.

3)  Whiplash and other injuries can cause stiffness and loss of range of motion in the neck and shoulders
If your injuries require immobilizing in a neck brace or sling, this can cause additional stiffness from a lack of movement in the joints and limbs. Chiropractic care can increase range of motion and reduce stiffness, making it easier to get back to your activities quicker.

4)  Improve healing time
Chiropractic techniques help remove obstacles hindering the body's ability to heal and can also reduce inflammation and promote healing.

5)  Lower stress levels
The physical and emotional trauma of a car accident can take a toll on your body, and one of the ways this manifests is in increased levels of stress hormones like cortisol. These hormones can interfere with the healing process, so finding ways to lower them is important. Chiropractic care can help lower stress levels and hormones to promote relaxation and make healing easier.

6)  Uncover and treat hidden trauma
Even if you don't feel like you were seriously injured in a car accident, it's still possible to have hidden trauma that could lead to problems down the road. You might have soft tissue damage or a misalignment in your spine that's not causing problems now but could do so later. You can uncover these hidden injuries by getting chiropractic care after a car accident and starting treatment immediately to ensure your condition doesn’t worsen.

7)  Prevent future problems
One of the most healing things you can do after a car accident is to get chiropractic care to prevent future problems. The injuries sustained in a car accident can lead to long-term problems if they're not treated properly. By getting chiropractic care, you can ensure your spine is aligned correctly when you recover. This can help avoid further injury and pain down the road.


If you have been in a car accident, don't wait to get help. Contact a chiropractor as soon as possible to start on the road to recovery. They will also be able to help you document any injuries for an insurance claim or personal injury case if needed.

Contact Pure Health and Wellness today to book your first session if you've suffered a car accident or are struggling with pain management.
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As your local Naperville chiropractor, we offer free, no-obligation initial consultations with a highly experienced team member. They'll work with you to review your history and current condition and develop a treatment plan tailored specifically for you.

Every year, millions of Americans seek chiropractic care for a diverse range of neurological and musculoskeletal health issues. As well as offering natural, non-invasive alternatives to conventional surgery- and drug-based therapies, chiropractors provide highly effective treatments that can improve patients' quality of life.

Despite their professionalism and effectiveness, chiropractors sometimes get a bad rep. Many misconceptions are circulating about chiropractic care, deterring Americans from booking appointments. If you’re considering visiting a chiropractor, we’re here to bust some unhelpful myths and reassure you about the benefits of chiropractic techniques. Whether you suffer from chronic back pain or migraines, a simple visit to the chiropractor could help you gain control of your health.

Myth #1: Chiropractors only know how to treat back pain
While many people seek chiropractic services to resolve their back pain, chiropractors are qualified to address many health issues, including headaches, migraines, autoimmune problems, osteoarthritis, joint pain, neck pain, ligament injuries, and much more. Chiropractic care offers a holistic approach to your health, considering how factors such as nutrition, exercise, posture, environment, and stress affect your everyday quality of life.

Whether you’re experiencing pain or stiffness in your knees, elbows, back, neck, or elsewhere, chiropractors have various treatment options up their sleeves to get you back to optimum health. Many people visit their local chiropractor every few months, even when they’re not experiencing pain. Booking regular appointments can help you stay pain-free throughout the year, and your chiropractor will likely offer valuable advice about maintaining optimal health.

Myth #2: Chiropractors are inferior to conventional doctors
Some people believe that chiropractors are merely quacks or failed medics. This couldn’t be further from the truth! As the American Chiropractic Association notes, chiropractors must complete a rigorous four-year doctoral program before they’re allowed to practice, including thousands of hours of clinical and laboratory-based lessons. As well as learning the basics about scientific fields like pharmacology, physiology, and neurology, chiropractic students must undergo clinical training and internships – a similar curriculum to many medical students.

Once their training is over, a student must pass four tricky national exams to obtain a chiropractic license in the US. After taking on a role as a chiropractor, they’re required to continue their education to maintain their license and stay on top of the latest innovations in natural medicine. In short, you can rest assured that your chiropractor has heaps of evidence-based training under their belt that will help address your health issue(s).

Myth #3: Chiropractic treatments are dangerous or painful
If you’re feeling a little daunted by the prospect of undergoing a chiropractic adjustment, don’t fret! Contrary to popular belief, spinal adjustments and other kinds of chiropractic treatments are typically painless, and your practitioner will do everything in their power to make you feel comfortable. Chiropractors are trained to tailor their treatments to their patient's needs, considering factors such as age, lifestyle, and medical conditions.

When you book your first appointment, your chiropractor will ask a range of questions about your health and wellness before coming up with a treatment plan – try to answer as comprehensively as possible to maximize the benefits of your treatment!

Myth #4: Chiropractic care is too expensive
Contrary to popular belief, many insurance policies cover chiropractic treatments, which are often highly affordable. If you’re unsure about what you can afford, remember to check your insurance policy for information about chiropractic care. Even if chiropractic appointments appear more pricey than regular medical care, it’s worth considering how much money you’ll save by treating your neurological and musculoskeletal issues early. For example, you’ll reduce how much you spend on pain-relieving drugs, hospital admissions, and even surgeries while avoiding painful therapies with long recovery times. It’s a win-win!

Ready to gain control of your health? Reach out to Pure Health and Wellness today!

Are you looking for a Naperville chiropractor to address your pain management issues? Get in touch with Pure Health and Wellness and book an appointment! We offer a range of targeted and holistic health services, including massage therapy, spinal adjustment, and more. Take control of your chiropractic wellness today!

​Are you a pregnant woman considering visiting a chiropractor in Illinois or Naperville? Chiropractic care is an effective pain management strategy, and for pregnant women, chiropractic care can help maintain your discs. It can maintain your spinal column, bone geometry, and spine-related nerves.

Prenatal chiropractic care can help adjust any misaligned joints in the spine. It can reduce your spinal nerve stress and promote your overall wellness and health. But what more benefits does chiropractic care have for pregnant women? Are there any associated risks? This article discusses chiropractic care for pregnant women, the associated myths, and its benefits.

Chiropractic Care for Pregnant Women
During pregnancy, your body undergoes many endocrinological and physiological changes to prepare your body to create room for the developing fetus. These changes can take a toll on your body and cause joint and spinal misalignments. As your body changes and your baby grows, your back will feel more pressure from the weight of the baby. This increased back curve along can risk misaligning your spinal joints. Also, pelvic changes and postural adaptations can alter the natural alignment of your spine.

A misaligned pelvis can cause an intrauterine constraint and may require a change of your planned delivery position. The misalignments may lower your chances of having a natural, non-invasive delivery.

The misalignments can force you into posterior and breech positions. The misalignments make c-sections births your only alternative. Yet, chiropractic care during pregnancy can promote your general wellness and fitness.

Prenatal chiropractic care can help you achieve pelvic balance by aligning the misaligned joints. When the pelvis is misaligned, it may reduce the amount of room available for your growing baby and make it difficult for the baby to get into the best possible position.

A chiropractor will use pregnancy-friendly techniques to restore the pelvis into alignment with the spine's structure in a pelvic misalignment diagnosis, thus helping to restore comfort; this also restores the nervous system's ability to function correctly. A chiropractor provides special exercises to strengthen the pelvis and surrounding areas.

Myths About Chiropractic Care for Women
Many myths surround chiropractic care for women. The common myths include:

Chiropractic Adjustments Are Risky
Some women believe the chiropractic alignments chiropractors give them are risky. Chiropractic alignments are indeed risky if not done correctly. It’s important to consider a reputable, experienced doctor in your area.

Chiropractors Only Treat Back Pain
Some women hesitate to seek chiropractic care because they believe it’s not comprehensive. Yet, chiropractic care treats chronic pain, acute pain, and autoimmune disorders.

Additionally, chiropractic care may help treat diabetes, headaches, and gastrointestinal infections.

Benefits & 3 Things to Consider
Chiropractic care should be tailored to each individual patient. As a result, chiropractic care shaped around your pregnancy can help maintain a more comfortable and healthier pregnancy by relieving joint, neck, hip, back pain and it may help you overcome your nauseating symptoms. Here are a few things to consider:

1). Finding a suitable chiropractor is not straightforward. You may need to try a few doctors before you find someone who meets your needs. Disclosing medical history will be helpful for the doctor to determine the root cause of your pain or discomfort.

2). Expert chiropractors examine you wholesomely- they consider your lifestyle, ongoing health conditions, your past medical history, your diet, and your musculoskeletal system
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3). Some chiropractic adjustments take longer than others and you may experience some side effects like fatigue, stiffness, and headaches a few days after the treatment.

Chiropractic care is an effective pain management strategy. Anyone, including children and pregnant women, can benefit from chiropractic care. But, you must choose a certified chiropractor who runs comprehensive checks on you before treating you. If you’re considering visiting a certified professional chiropractor in the Chicagoland area, contact Pure Health and Wellness today.

One of the many perks of working in an office environment is sitting in a comfortable chair for eight hours each day. Yet, this also means that your back may be more susceptible to more serious injuries than those who work in more labor-intensive jobs.

But taking proactive measures can help prevent problems from arising. Chiropractic benefits are many, but they are easy to underestimate. Regular chiropractic care can help office workers in some ways. Some of them are;

1. Neck and Back Pain is a Common Problem for Office Workers
Office workers spend the majority of their day sitting at a desk, hunched over their computers. In some cases, prolonged sitting can cause neck and back pain since it is difficult to hold the head up properly.

Chiropractic adjustments are quick and easy ways to adjust this strain to promote a healthier body. These simple adjustments can often help you avoid costly and painful treatments.

2. Regular Chiropractic Adjustments Help to Maintain Good Posture
A healthy posture is a necessary part of good health. Unfortunately, a lot of people are not aware of the importance of posture. At work, sitting for long hours, cramped environments, and strain can affect your posture. A regular visit to the chiropractor can help in such a situation.

He or she can make you aware of your improper postures and can help you correct them. Chiropractic care is a holistic approach to wellness that targets the body, mind, and spirit. The chiropractor can help you with holistic wellness and pain management.

3. Chiropractic Care Can Aid in the Reduction of Headaches and Migraines
Every year, up to 52 percent of the population suffers from headaches. Office workers and deskbound employees can be especially susceptible to these painful episodes. This is a result of spending long hours hunched over a computer screen or hunched up on a computer screen.

Correcting spinal misalignment, improving posture, and increasing blood flow to the brain can help lessen headaches and migraines. Chiropractors treat more than just back pain and neck pain. Chiropractic is safe and very effective at relieving headaches and migraines.

4. Chiropractic Care Can Increase Your Focus and Work Productivity
After a long day at the office, do you find yourself thumping your head against your computer screen around 5:00? At this point in the day, you're not thinking clearly. That's because sitting hunched over for too long can actually affect your brain function and lead to cognitive impairment.

Chiropractic care can help by improving spinal alignment and reducing pain. The brain gets more blood when you remove nerve interference from your spine and nervous system through manipulation or non-surgical spinal correction. This can improve your focus, productivity, memory, and cognitive functions without having to stop your workday!

5. Chiropractic Care Enhances Job Retention
Studies show that chiropractic care improves job retention, allowing you to stay in the field you love. Relieving your lower back pain is the top reason why many people visit their chiropractors. But it's not just about pain relief.

Chiropractic care for office workers can also improve your posture, flexibility, comfort, and performance at work. So, office workers who get regular chiropractic adjustments stay at work longer and do better at their jobs than those who don't.

6. Improves Overall Lifestyle and Health
Chiropractic care is essential in maintaining the health of anyone who spends any amount of time sitting at a desk. Through regular adjustments and other holistic services, you can help yourself meet all your aches, pains, and injuries head-on.

An office worker's body can often break down under the constant strain brought on by long hours at their desk job; why leave your well-being to chance?

Chiropractic care encourages patients to stay active and exercise regularly. With time, the benefits extend far beyond just improving posture while sitting for long hours in an office chair.


Conclusion
As an office worker, you're exposed to stress and anxiety daily. Concern, tension, and a high level of pressure to perform can cause neck pain, back pain, and other related issues. So, don't shy away from chiropractic as a potential solution to your symptoms. It may just be what you need to feel healthy and pain-free again.


At Pure Health and Wellness, located in Naperville, Illinois, we understand this problem and have created special wellness plans to help solve it. So feel free to schedule an appointment today. We look forward to making you feel better again.

Roughly $200 billion dollars are spent every year on back pain management. It’s the most typical reason for lost workdays and a drop in productivity. Pain in the lower back is, without a doubt, quite a burden. With a lifetime prevalence rate of around 70% (1) (2)

If you are looking to give your back a rest, then you are in the right place. We listed a couple of practical solutions that can help you avoid this type of issue so that you can function in tip-top shape. Here are the tips you’d wish you’d known sooner.

1.   Do Some Aerobics
Research indicates that aerobic workouts have a lot to offer when it comes to chronic low back pain (CLBP). They promote better blood flow and nutrients to the soft tissue, thus amplifying the natural recovery and reducing stiffness.
To top it all off, 30 min to 40 min of aerobics promote endorphin production. This is a key brain chemical that helps reduce the perception of pain. Even working out 20 min can still help you reap the benefits. In fact, CLBP drastically dropped by 20% in the group that did aerobics, compared to the 15% recorded in the muscle training group. (3)
Tip: Back injuries like strains and sprains can be prevented with a good warm-up routine. Exercising the core muscles can give your back the support it needs.

2.   Make Your Diet a Priority
Wondering how to prevent back pain at work? People vulnerable to back pain should make their dietary regimen a primary focus. Studies show that pain in the back among healthcare workers ranges from 47% to 70%, with a 30%-point prevalence. (4)
Options like fruits and veggies can come a long way. Food packed with anti-inflammatory properties, such as fruits, veggies, lean protein, healthy fats, olive oil, and nuts, can hamper inflammation. And inflammation is known to make chronic back pain worse. (5)
Tip: Consider the Mediterranean diet as the “jack-of-all-trades.” It is highly ranked among dietitians and doctors for a good reason. It can protect against inflammation, metabolic ailments, and heart problems. (6)

3.   Don’t Sit All Day Every Day
Prolonged sitting is a major trigger for pain in the back. So, to find adequate pain management solutions, watch your sitting position and move from time to time. Avoid sitting slouched. Otherwise, you can strain the spinal discs and overstretch the ligaments.
Tip: Use a simple cushion against the chair back to give your lower back some support. Or, adjust the backrest a bit forward. (7)
When changing the sitting position doesn’t do the trick, you might want to boost the body’s self-healing abilities. Spinal alignment and manipulation can help with that. Realigning the spine through chiropractic care will curb the pressure on the central nervous system and aid with pain management. Dr. Justin Hunter of Pure Health and Wellness has the right skills to mitigate the issue.

4.   Find the Sleeping Position That Works for You
How do I prevent back pain when sleeping? This is another question that pops up for those looking to improve their overall health and wellness. There isn’t a single sleeping position that works for everyone. Rather, you should experiment and see which one takes away the pressure from the back. Use your best judgment based on your comfort levels to find the proper solutions.

5.   Let Off Some Steam
For those who want to know how to avoid lower back pain, reducing stress can help. 2020 reports show there is a connection between emotional stress and severe pain. When you are stressed, you are more likely to keep your muscles tense. This tension puts a lot of pressure on the body. What you can do is try meditation, yoga, deep breathing, or similar solutions that will keep your mind at ease. (8)

6.   Up Your Water Intake
Dehydration may cause some sort of pain in the back. That’s because the discs between the vertebrae require fluid to cushion the bones. Dehydration could make them slightly brittle and dry, which amplifies the pain. So, if you want some tips to avoid back pain, then drinking water remains imperative. (9)


Conclusion
Years of an unhealthy lifestyle and stress lead to many health issues and cause an increase in stress-related health problems. It’s important to prioritize your health and look for means to balance your life with exercise and recreational sports with proper rest and diet. Always remember to get the proper medical treatment, and sometimes, getting a health coach might help solve a few issues.

At Pure Health & Wellness, Dr. Hunter sees chiropractic as a whole-body approach to pain management and wellness. As such, we treat our patients for their current pain, but also educate them on body biomechanics, exercise, and wellness to help them take charge of their own health and make improvements on their own.  If you’re in the Chicagoland area or surrounding suburbs, do not hesitate to contact us.


​References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538173/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519066/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4934575/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4415130/
5. https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2019/habits-causing-lower-back-pain.html
6. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-best-anti-inflammatory-diets
7. https://www.uclahealth.org/spinecenter/ergonomics-prolonged-sitting
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7187552/
9. https://www.spineuniverse.com/wellness/nutrition/relieve-your-back-pain-staying-hydrated