Are You Stretching to Stay Active? Chiropractic Helps
By Sandy Schroeder
Some mornings can be a real stretch when you wake up feeling stiff and sore. Just reaching up to get the cereal or down to tie your shoes can be an effort, but there are ways to turn everything around to stay flexible and mobile. Setting up a daily stretch routine can ease stiffness in the neck, back, or knees, and up your performance on the courts on the weekend. It can also keep you mobile if you sit too much. At the same time, chiropractic treatment can support your efforts as you tune up your body.
How Your Chiropractor Helps
The Joint Chiropractic clinic near you helps people of all ages work on health, wellness and fitness to stay limber and flexible. Licensed chiropractors will start where you are and review your range of motion, current pain or stiffness, daily routine and health history. The goal will be to help you improve your spinal health, which may also improve your overall health. The spine allows us to go wherever we choose, while the central nervous system inside controls all of our brain-to-body communication. When everything works well, we do too.
A gentle targeted spinal adjustment may ease any pain that you have, and generate a strong sense of wellness. As you assess the benefits, weekly 15-minute spinal adjustments may work best to make the most of your new stretching routines.
Tips for Smart Stretching
Harvard Health suggests focusing on safety first when stretching to avoid injuries. As always, check with your doctor before beginning new exercises.
Breathe as you stretch - Sometimes we become so involved in an exercise that we hold our breath, which can raise blood pressure. Instead, breathe in and out as you let your body flow with the stretch.
Examine each muscle - As you stretch a muscle, check to see how tight it is and work to balance both sides of the body.
Stretch daily - Flexibility improves and injuries drop when you maintain regular routines.
Warm up first - Muscles stretch more easily when they are warm. March in place and swing your arms, dance a little, or take a warm shower before you stretch.
Never stretch to the point of pain - Strive to create a gentle tension in a muscle, never reaching a state of pain. If it hurts, stop! Work your way to improved stretches over time.
Stop by the Joint Chiropractic clinic near you to find out more about the affordable personal health care plan that eliminates the hassle of insurance. No appointments are needed and weekend and evening hours are available.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Columbus, Ga.