How to Support Your Spine
By Sara Butler
You are your spine’s biggest supporter. Yep – you’ve always got your own back! If you live with chronic back or neck pain, then your daily routine can become a practice in managing your symptoms. Since you can’t be in your chiropractor’s office 24/7, there are some tips your chiropractor wants you to know that can help improve your condition on a daily basis.
The Biggest Thing to Remember
It should come as no surprise to you that everything you do to support your back during the day should center on one very important thing: Posture. Whether you’re in your car, sitting at your desk, or watching television, the way you sit or lay down adds pressure to your back, and if you’re doing it wrong, it can lead to additional pain. Any time you slouch or hunch over, you’re adding even more pressure to the structures that help to support your spine, and if you’ve got trouble with one of those structures, then you aren’t doing yourself any favors.
If you sit for long periods of time, such as when you’re at work, then you need to make sure you’re supporting the natural curves of your spine. These tips will help.
- Ensure your chair is set up appropriately – Your knees should be bent at a right angle, and you should be able to fit two fingers easily between your thigh and chair.
- The backrest should support your back – The back of your chair should push the lower part of your back forward ever so slightly. If you need more support, use a rolled up towel or small pillow at your lower back to accomplish this.
- Your feet should be flat – If you can’t adjust the height of your chair, then you need to use a footrest. This will help take some of the pressure off your lower back as you sit.
Move Around
No one can tolerate sitting in just one position for a long period of time. If you’re already in pain, then it’ll make a huge difference if you can move around periodically throughout the day. Getting up and moving at least once an hour for a few minutes is ideal. If you can’t stop working long enough to move around, consider standing while talking on the phone, or see if your coworkers don’t mind doing a walking meeting!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.