Bend smart
Protect your back when bending, especially for regular jobs, such as housework or gardening, which can destabilise your spine over time. ‘Keep your back neutral and your core (tummy muscles) engaged,’ advises physio Neil Velleman. ‘Pivot from the hips to bend, and use your knees rather than letting your back collapse.’
Think before you rest
‘The advice is no longer bed rest for a bad back,’ says physio Neil Velleman. ‘It used to be to lie down and rest until the pain went. But now we
