Simple ways to manage pain

Sooner is better when it comes to managing nagging aches and pains that can hamper your healthy lifestyle. In fact, the coming winter months are when pain pops up the most for people of all ages, according to celebrity trainer Ramona Braganza. Keys to keeping active and pain-free are getting ahead of pain and preventing it from becoming a larger problem that is harder to handle.

To help reduce and prevent pain, Omron has partnered with Braganza to provide five easy tips to keep you doing the things you love while helping minimize pain and keeping that spring in your step this winter:

Sit Tall: If you have a desk job, proper posture can help to reduce back pain as you age. Sit with your back straight with your shoulders back; distribute your body weight evenly on both hips, bend your knees at right angles and keep your feet flat on the floor.

Be Flexible: Whether it’s weekly yoga, or standing up and stretching between long periods of sitting, flexibility can help you stay fit and strong. One simple stretch: stand with your feet shoulder width apart, place hands on your lower back with finger tips pointing down, slowly lean back as far as comfortable while looking up at the ceiling, then return to start. Repeat five times.

Eat Smart: Reduce the risk of inflammation by incorporating anti-inflammatory foods such as tomatoes, olive oil, nuts, fatty fish, fruits and vegetables into your diet as much as possible.

Master the Basics: Shoveling, pushing furniture and even gardening can be hard on your muscles, so it’s important to keep them strong in order to prevent pain. For safe and proper training techniques, visit ramonabraganza.com.

Power Up to Reduce Pain: A proven therapy often used by physical therapists that you can get without a prescription is TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation), which offers a practical solution to your everyday pain management needs because it’s portable and can help lessen the need for pain medication. Omron offers one of the most powerful TENS units on the market and it is 100 percent drug free.

For more ways to keep those aches and pains at bay, especially as the temperature drops, visit omronhealthcare.com.

(Family Features)