Preventing back pain

It’s difficult to prevent back pain, but the following tips may help reduce the risk of it coming back and minimising its severity:

• do regular back exercises and stretches – your GP or a physiotherapist may be able to advise you about exercises to try
• stay active – doing regular exercise can help keep your back strong; adults are advised to do 150 minutes of exercise a week
• avoid sitting for too long when driving or at work
• lose weight through a combination of a healthy diet and regular exercise if you’re overweight – being overweight can increase your risk of developing back pain