If you have minor back problems, but love to go on camping adventures, you're left pondering between two choices: Succumb to the pain and stay home or head out and risk days, weeks or months with nagging back pain. Don't let everyday aches and pains keep you from enjoying your outings, and don't make them worse by continuing to do the things that aggravate your back. Instead, find effective ways to deter the pain, so you can still have your camping trips, only without all that pain and discomfort.

1. Pack A Foam Mattress Topper In Your Gear

At home, cut a foam mattress topper to the approximate size of your sleeping bag or cot, then roll it up tightly and pack it into your gear. When you go to spread out for sleeping at your campsite, insert the mattress topper under the sleeping bag or beneath your blankets on the cot. This extra comfort and cushioning should minimize the effect of sleeping on the harder surfaces that don't offer the same support as your mattress at home.

2. Stretch Your Lower Back Muscles Often

Gentle back stretches can do wonders for you while you're out in the woods, especially if you have to tote a lot of things around. The constant carrying, bending and lifting will leave any back sore after a weekend or so, even if it's not one already prone to problems. Ask your doctor what the safest and most beneficial stretches are for your particular predicament and be sure to do them as needed when you're out in the wilderness.

3. Wear A Brace For Heavy Backpacking

If your trip involves carrying a loaded backpack up a steep cliff or two, definitely invest in a back brace. The same ones used by truck drivers, warehouse workers and other professionals who also deal with back issues just might prevent a lot of the common aches and pains you're left with after backpacking.

4. Grab A Walking Stick

You could find a walking stick directly from Mother Nature herself or buy one at a retailer, but either way, it should take some of the pressure off of your back, which, in turn, should alleviate some of your discomfort. A walking stick will also improve your balance, possibly preventing falls and in a pinch, could be used to fend off a curious wild animal that comes too close.

5. Visit A Chiropractor Before And/Or After Your Camping Trip

Before or after your gallivanting through the woods, check in with a chiropractor and tell them all about your back problems, including when they began, what may have caused them and how you normally cope with the pain. A chiropractor can help you in many ways, depending on what particular issue you're suffering with:

• Spinal manipulation for back spasms, misalignment and range-of-motion restrictions.
• Massage, to work out tension and tightness in key muscles and tissues.
• Flexion distraction, a chiropractic technique that addresses pain-inducing conditions like scoliosis, herniated discs and joint pain.
• Short and long-term recommendations for your particular condition, including advice on seeing a general practitioner or other specialist, if your situation warrants it.

A chiropractor can develop a customized plan for your pain, with special attention paid before or after a camping trip, leaving you free from worry when you plan a trip and hopefully, free from pain when you return. Contact a business like Fick Chiropractic Centers Inc to learn more.

Deterring back pain, when you can figure out how to do it, should enable you to enjoy more things in life, with fewer negative consequences, and that's a win-win situation, especially for camping enthusiasts. Partaking of the great outdoors puts your back in many compromising positions, so think ahead, adapt to the circumstances, and have a professional on speed dial to keep your body ready for anything, including your next great adventure.