Think tummy time is just for babies? Think again! Lying on your tummy for a little while everyday is a really effective way to keep your back healthy as well as ward off pain and potential injury. No matter if you have a sedentary or active job, your back takes quite a beating during the day. Think about it. If you’re not sitting, you’re either standing, bending, twisting, or turning, all of which involve your back putting in work. When you’re up and awake, the muscles of the back are constantly working, which can wear them out over time and cause injury. That is why sufficient rest is so important because it allows the body time to do the work necessary to heal and stay healthy. After a day of work, place a pillow under your tummy and lie down for at least 20 mins. After a short while, you will begin to feel your back relax. This relaxation allows for the annulus (the outer covering that protects your discs) to release waste. Lying on your tummy also allows the force of gravity to push the annulus back into its place to help prevent disc bulging, also known as disc herniation. If you already have a disc herniation, don’t worry. This can still be very helpful. Back pain is no joke and can be very expensive to fix, but there are little things such as this that you can do everyday that cost nothing to reduce risk of injury. So, go do your back a favor and lie down!