How to Keep Your Spine Strong and Healthy
By Sara Butler
Spinal health is important. For anyone who’s ever experience even mild to moderate back pain, it’s easy to understand why. Even a little pain can spread from your back to other parts of the body, and significant back pain can have a huge impact on a person’s quality of life too. Chiropractic care is one aspect of good spinal health, but what else should you do outside of the chiropractor’s office? Here’s what the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic suggest.
Regular Chiropractic Adjustments
Chiropractic adjustments help to keep your body free from joint restriction and dysfunction, which can have an impact on the way your body works. Keep your central nervous system functioning at its best; if your body works optimally, you'll be at a great place to improve your spinal health and wellness.
Exercise
Regular exercise is a great way to maintain a healthy weight and build muscle, both of which are essential to proper spinal health and wellness. Strong muscles help to support your spine and your legs and core. Strong muscles in other areas will help to reduce pressure on your spine and reduce the chance of injury to your back.
Sit Correctly
Many people don’t associate sitting with back injuries, but how you sit plays a significant role in your chance of experiencing back pain. If you have a job that requires you to sit for most of the day, then make sure you have a chair that supports your body ergonomically. Many workplaces will provide ergonomic assessments to help make sure your desk and chair are set up to support a healthy body and posture. If your workplace offers that, take advantage of it. Also, make sure to get up regularly from your desk -- at least once an hour -- to move around and stretch. This can help to keep you from getting poor posture due to sitting one way for too long.
Use Heat
If youre back, shoulders or neck are achy, then reduce pain with heat. Applying heat to an injured or strained area can help to increase the blood flow, encouraging healing of muscles. Heat can also help to treat muscle spasms. Try a heating pad or warm compress to the area to find relief.
Caring for your back should always be at the front of your mind. It’s central to everything you do, so take care of it so it can take care of you!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Aurora, Colo.
