Easy Ways to Pamper Your Spine
By Sara Butler
At The Joint Chiropractic, the chiropractors believe in treating your spine right. That means you should do something each day that indulges your spine and helps to alleviate discomfort, prevent injuries, and keep it healthy. Here are a few things you can do every day to pamper your spine and reduce your risk of serious complications to your back as you get older.
Walk
Exercise is important. And when it comes to your back, low-impact aerobic exercise is very important. Low-impact exercises such as walking provide several benefits to your back. Going for a walk each day helps to strengthen the muscles that support your spine, it helps to provide your back with healing nutrients and oxygen, and it also helps to reinforce bone structure and flexibility.
When walking, it’s important to practice proper form. Walk with your shoulders straight, your stomach slightly pulled in, and your head held high. If you suffer from back pain or another spinal condition, then you should start slow. Go on a couple of short walks each day and slowly build up strength and stamina to talk one long walk.
Eat Healthily
The food you eat each day plays a big role in the health of your spine. To pamper your spine and keep it healthy, try to limit how much saturated fats you eat. Saturated fats can be found in foods such as fried foods, butter, cream, and baked goods. You should also work to eliminate highly processed foods from your diet and also restrict the number of calories you drink all day. All of this can lead to excess weight, which is terrible for the continued health of your back.
Instead of unhealthy foods, work to incorporate whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and lean protein into your diet. If you need help with fine-tuning your diet, discuss it with the chiropractors at The Joint.
Stand
If you work behind a desk for several hours each day, consider switching to a standing desk -- or go between a standing workstation and sitting one. Sitting puts three times as much pressure on your spinal discs as standing, so sitting for long periods can be terrible for your back. Reduce these negative effects by standing as you work or as you’re talking on the phone. Also make sure to take frequent breaks, at least once an hour, over the course of the day to keep your back healthy.
Give your spine a little tender love and care!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Fort Worth, Tex.