Chiropractic Tips for a Healthy Back
By Sara Butler
Nearly everyone experiences back pain at some point in their lives. In fact, according to the American Chiropractic Association, about 80 percent of people will. Those odds aren't great to help you avoid back pain, but you can give your back a fighting chance to avoid pain and injury by following a few of these back care tips from the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic.
Learn to Lift
When you bend to lift something, you should never bend at your back. Think about it -- have you been doing it wrong? When you lift, you should train yourself to bend at the knee, keeping your back straight as you lower your body down. Your legs and hips should do all the work, never the muscles in your back. When carrying something you've lifted that's heavy, learn to pivot with your feet to turn, not to twist at your torso which can cause injury to your back. Know your limits and get help if something is too heavy for you to lift alone.
Exercise Regularly
You may feel this piece of advice is something you get a lot, but you get it from all types of healthcare practitioners because it's something you need to do for your health and wellness -- including the health of your back.
Exercise strengthens your muscles, including the muscles that help to support your back. You should aim to do about 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week. If you need help discovering an exercise that's right for you, talk to the chiropractors at The Joint for suggestions.
Get a Decent Mattress
When you replace your mattress about every 10 years, you should try out as many as you can to find the one that's right for you. You need to choose a mattress that helps to support your spine as well as your shoulders and hips.
You also need to invest in good, supportive pillows. These pillows can help to keep your spine in a neutral position as you sleep. Just make sure to speak with the chiropractors about the ways you can use pillows to support your body and spine as you sleep depending on the type of positions you like to sleep in.
If you have questions about caring for your spine, then talk to the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic today!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Austin, Tex.