7 Easy Tips For A Healthy Spine

There are many people that are affected by back pain. In fact, lower back pain is the leading cause of job-related disability!

Back pain can diminish your quality of life, causing you to miss out on social activities that you enjoy and preventing you from being able to accomplish the simplest tasks!

Fortunately there are ways to lower the chances of back pain in your future. It starts by taking care of your neck and back!

Continue reading for some simple tricks for a healthy spine!

DRINK WATER

First, lets talk about staying hydrated. It is very important to maintain elasticity and fluidity in joints. Our spinal disks are vulnerable to loss of hydration and can begin to shrink!

Shrinking spinal disks make you more susceptible to painful back conditions. Herniated disks, also known as slipped disks occur when the disks become brittle and eventually slip out of place because they aren’t hydrated!

In addition, the protective padding of the spine can diminish and further contribute to the loss of the structural health of your spine.

WORK OUT

You have a high risk of back issues if you’re not being active! It’s recommended that you regularly visit a gym or keep moving by taking a walk, swim or bike ride. Staying active and keeping your body moving helps maintain a healthy spine!

The best exercise routine for your back and neck would be one that combines strength training, stretching and a type of aerobic activity. Ask Pickett Chiropractic for more advice! (850) 939-3339

EAT RIGHT

Speaking of health, eating nutritious foods will help you lose weight and also maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese are risk factors for low back pain!

Having excess weight like belly fat can put added stress on the lower back and cause some serious back problems in the future! Eat healthy and nutritious and feel the difference it makes!

SIDE SLEEP

Sleeping is an important factor of your overall health. Your body needs a good night’s sleep to repair itself and keep things working functionally!

So what is the best sleeping position for back pain prevention? Sleep on your side, not your stomach! Stomach sleeping puts too much pressure on your spine; side sleeping helps prevent Sleep Apnea symptoms and also gives you a better quality sleep!

It’s also important to have a supportive mattress and pillow that promotes proper alignment of your neck.

GET UP AND STRETCH

You should never go without stretching! Keeping flexible helps reduce the risk of injury and helps maintain normal joint function and a good range of motion.

Start your day with a few good stretches to promote a healthy spine.

WORK POSITION

Proper posture helps reduce a lot of stress on both the lower and upper back! Make sure your work space (computer, desk, car) is at the proper height and use a chair that gives you the most lower back support!

While sitting, your knees should be at 90 degrees and your feet should rest comfortably flat on the floor. If you work with phones, never cradle the phone between your ear and shoulder! Hold your phone to your ear or use a headset to avoid neck and shoulder problems.

Also, use frequent breaks to get up and walk around the office. If you stay in one position for too long your muscles will tighten up!

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY

While it’s common to experience back pain every once in a while, don’t ignore constant or frequent pain as it can indicate a more serious problem! Left untreated, problems with your spine can worsen and become quite serious.

Listen to your body! We recommend if you feel back pain to not overdo it at the gym or self-medicate to relieve symptoms. Seek medical care to learn about your spine and get the correct treatment for your symptoms!

Take Care Of Your Spine With Our Navarre Chiropractic Center

As you can see, many steps can be taken to improve your spinal health that involves better movements and awareness of how you hold yourself throughout the day tackling various tasks!

We know how hard it can be living with back pain. Allow us to give you some relief. Give us a call at (850) 939-3339 today!

Want to learn more? Here are 5 Back Pain Myths – Debunked!