How Your Workout May Be Harming Your Spine
We all know that exercise is good for us. In fact, exercise along with a healthy diet is the focus of most diet plans. With all of the healthy benefits that come along with a healthy workout routine, it is hard to ignore the habit. But, what if your exercise routine was actually causing damage? Would the benefits outweigh the negative side effects? If you exercise regularly, and also suffer from an aching back, check out these ways in which your regular workout may be causing damage to your spine.
Your Lifting Technique Needs Work
Just like how you can hurt your back lifting a heavy box or furniture, lifting weights in the gym wrong can lead to back pain. It might cause strained muscles from the lower back to the neck. It may also cause subluxations, or misalignments of the spine. These misalignments can not only cause pain in the back, but may also manifest elsewhere in the body. If you have back pain after a workout, take a look at your lifting technique and make adjustments as necessary.
Your Squats Aren’t Using the Glutes
A lot of exercises rely on strong glutes. If you aren’t using the glutes properly, then the stress gets shifted into the lower back, where the muscles there try to compensate. Obviously, since this was not the design of the exercise or the muscles, this can cause strain and even injury to the lower back. When you can, use those glutes. It’ll protect your back, and it will also help to get your backside in great shape.
You Ignore The Abs
The abs are directly opposite the back muscles. In truth, the abs and the back muscles play off of one another to help each other out. When one set of muscles is weak, it forces the other to work harder, potentially causing pain and stress. In order to ease the strain on the back, work the ab muscles consistently. Exercises like crunches, leg lifts, and the plank are all great ways to build strong abs.
In order to maintain a healthy back, a great addition to your regular routine is to add chiropractic care to the mix. When the back suffers, especially with pain caused by subluxations, a chiropractor may be able to align the spine again and get rid of pain and tension. This can help you keep working out, just without the pain that comes along with it. Regular care is one of the best ways to stay healthy, in the gym, and ultimately pain free.
To get chiropractic care, check out The Joint...the Chiropractic Place. At The Joint, walk in appointments and an affordable pricing plan mean that you can get quality care without the worry or hassle. A chiropractor at The Joint may be able to align your spine and help you keep the positive aspects of working out without causing more damage in the long run.
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