Secrets to Good Spinal Hygiene
By Sara Butler
Every day you do things to take care of your body. You shower, shave, put on deodorant, and brush your teeth – all in the name of good hygiene. But are you practicing good spinal hygiene, too? Good spinal hygiene is a set of practices done each day to keep the spine healthy and, by extension, the rest of your body, too. Here are a few things you can do to keep your spine healthy on a daily basis from the chiropractors at The Joint!
Don’t Overdo It in the Morning
You need to make sure to avoid spinal flexion early in the morning. That’s because as you sleep, the discs between the vertebrae in your back become rehydrated. This can cause your spine to be slightly unstable when you first get out of bed, so try to avoid bending over for the first 30 minutes of the day in order to keep injury away. Save the vigorous activity for later!
Move Your Car Seat Up
You may look cool cruising around town, all laid back -- but what you’re doing to your spine by being too far away from the steering wheel is anything but cool. Slouching forward in order to reach the wheel can cause neck pain. The easiest way to avoid it is by sitting closer to the steering wheel so you don’t have to strain to reach it comfortably.
Watch Your Form
Good form isn’t just for Olympic gymnasts. You should be practicing good form in everything you do on a daily basis, from sitting to bending to lifting. Make sure to always use your hips and legs to lift, never bend over to lift something up. Also remember to hold things as close to your body as possible while carrying them, pivoting with your feet to turn. That will help save your back from potential injury!
Make Your Laptop a Tabletop
Contrary to what the name implies, you really shouldn’t put your laptop computer on your lap. When working on your computer it should always be at eye level. That way you won’t risk neck or shoulder pain in the future. Keep that chin up!
See Your Chiropractor
Good spinal hygiene begins at ends at the chiropractor’s office! Getting adjusted on a regular basis helps to maintain spinal health and can help to avoid major pain down the road. That’s because your chiropractor can use adjustments to target issues before they cause you pain.
Practicing good spinal hygiene is easy! Try to incorporate these habits into your day.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Fort Worth, Tex.