Chiropractic Care May Help You Feel Stronger
By Paul Rothbart
Physical strength is a nice asset. It reduces risk of injury, helps us to feel better, and really comes in handy when moving furniture. Muscle mass and physical strength tend to decline with age. This can lead to feeling weak and helpless. This is one of the worst things that can happen to physical as well as mental health for seniors. It feels like a loss of independence after a lifetime of being able to do everything for one's self. But there are ways to maintain strength and chiropractic care may be able to assist in that endeavor.
Build Strength Using Body Resistance Exercises
An effective and safe way to build muscle strength is doing exercises that use the body as resistance. Push-ups are a classic example of this type of workout. They are great for overall upper body strength as they work the chest, shoulders, and triceps. There are also modified versions for those who find standard push-ups too challenging. Squats are excellent for the lower body. They work the thighs and the calves benefit from their role in supporting the body. Sit-ups are excellent for the core. There are many others, but these three exercises alone can be all you need to stay strong while aging.
Weight Training
When it comes to strength muscles, weight training is in a class of its own. Using very heavy weights comes with risk, but lifting is versatile. Higher repetition sets with lighter weights can be done to minimize injury. A greater number of sets and less rest time between them will also increase intensity without increasing the weight. If you feel you can handle it, lifting weights is a good exercise to consider. Just be sure to follow all safety guidelines and it is also a good idea to get your doctor's OK, especially for seniors.
The Role of Chiropractic Care
Seeing a chiropractor is not going to actually build strength in your muscles. Only regular exercise can do that. But what chiropractic care can do is keep your spine and joints in proper shape and functioning optimally with full range of motion. This can help prevent injury and maximize joint performance which will make the workouts more effective. Many people feel stronger just from regular chiropractic adjustments and taking that feeling into a workout is going to make it seem easier.
It's great to feel physically strong, but it can be difficult to maintain as we age. But regular resistance exercise, whether using weights or the body, can keep the muscles strong for a lifetime. Chiropractic care can help prevent injury and make those workouts more effective. Consider stopping by The Joint Chiropractic for a walk-in visit. It could turn out to be a big step toward staying strong.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in San Jose, Calif.