TriMed Spine & Joint believes that a healthy spine allows one to move more freely in our life and easily and comfortably do things like running, jumping, dancing, and even playing sports. Forgetting about spine health can lead to permanent injuries that prevent you from doing the things you love.
Seeing a chiropractor, like Dr. Cantor, when you experience back or neck pain prevents issues before they happen. You can also get advice on how to care for your spine properly.
Here are some tips on how to keep your spine healthy.
1 – Improve Core Strength
Your core is made of more than just your abdominal muscles. Your core also includes muscles in your lower to middle back. Concentrate on strengthening your core muscles when exercising. Core strength also helps you maintain good posture and reduces back pain on the whole. The stronger your core, the less pressure and strain you have on your lower back and spine.
2 – Get Regular Exercise
Exercising regularly is one of the best things you can do for spine health. This means doing something within the moderate to intense exercise range like brisk walking, jogging, swimming, mowing the lawn, aerobic dancing, strength training, or rock climbing. This will not only improve spinal health, it also improves your health overall.
3 – Mattress Support
The quality of your mattress affects your spinal health as well as your ability to sleep. Be sure your mattress provides enough support that you do not wake up with pain in your neck or back. If you have a good mattress but often wake up with neck pain, you may need a new pillow.
4 – Pay Attention to Posture
Having poor posture is a major contributor to chronic back problems. Making sure to sit up straight when watching television, working at a desk, or even a short time sitting at the table for dinner can eliminate many back and neck issues. Your body has become accustomed to slouching. As a result, this might seem difficult at first. You should get up and stretch at least once an hour if you work at a desk. This will help you better maintain your posture.
5 – Wear Good Shoes
Your feet and spine need support while walking, just like your body needs support while you’re sleeping, Good shoes give you a strong base to help keep your body and spine in alignment. Invest in a high-quality pair of shoes that fit correctly to keep your spine healthy.
6 – Stand Up Straight
Standing all day long puts serious strain on your lower back and spine. You can relieve this pressure by standing in certain positions rather than others. Try standing with one foot slightly ahead of the other and keeping your knees bent. You can also shift your weight to your heels instead of your toes or from your left foot to your right foot. Use those good core muscles and engage your abs to support your spine even more.
7 – Don’t Ignore the Signs
If you start to feel a small pain in your back while doing an activity, STOP IMMEDIATELY! Listen to your body and try it again. The same goes for any persistent pain in your back or neck. Even a small, constant pain could indicate much bigger issues. Leaving a small pain untreated can turn it into something much more serious.
At the end of the day, you want to take spine health seriously. Follow these seven expert tips to protect yourself from injury, and always pay attention to how your spine feels. If you feel something is amiss, see a chiropractor at Royal Palm Chiropractic & Wellness right away.
Our friendly and knowledgeable office can figure out why your back or neck hurts and help you find a fix ASAP.
We here at TriMed Spine & Joint hope that you have jotted down the tips in this blog. Please take the information and share it with others. Thank you for visiting the site. If you need chiropractic care, help with spinal decompression, looking for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or interventional pain management contact us at one of our several South Florida offices.
