Maintaining a healthy spine plays many crucial roles within the body. The spinal cord controls various parts of the body. The spinal cord forms a vital link between the brains and the body and is part of the central nervous system. Along with your brain, your spinal cord controls bodily functions such as muscle movements.
Maintaining a healthy spine is vital as we age. The spine protects the spinal cord, nerve roots and several of the body’s internal organs. This is the body’s way of sending impulses from the body to our brain.
How do I know if I have spinal problems?
If you are experiencing pain that inhibits your ability to stretch, bend over, your ability to turn, inability to sleep or preventing you to perform day to day movements, it may be time you visit your Chiropractor for spinal adjustments.
This is a matter not to be ignored or treated by self-diagnosing or self-medicating. By self-medicating and taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, you may complicate your issues even if it brings temporary relief. Leaving your spinal conditions untreated can result in further complications.
Pain can be caused by a herniated disc, muscle strain or even stenosis. All of which needs professional medical treatment. Chiropractic care is a non-surgical treatment option for a herniated disc as well as muscle strain. Professional chiropractors can treat and speed up the healing process of these conditions. Chiropractors can help you on the road to recovery much sooner. Whatever the cause of your back pain, maintaining a healthy spine is vital when you are ageing.
Below we will provide some tips on how to help your spine stay healthy and enjoy life to your fullest capacity.
- Let your spine rest while sleeping – while lying down, your spine finally get the chance to rest. Ensure that you have supporting pillows and that you allow your spine to rest in a supported way
- Enjoy the benefits of a massage – massaging has therapeutic benefits for our entire body creating a great benefit for relieving stress on the spine
- Good posture – maintaining a good posture is a key element to maintain a healthy spine. Standing up after sitting for long periods of time, exercising your spine.
- Low impact aerobics exercises to strengthen your core and back muscles
- If you are not into aerobic exercise, yoga is beneficial for strengthening your core and back too.
- Taking walks is a great benefit for the spine. Walking increases the stability of the spine and conditions the muscles that keep the body in the upright position. Even if you feel the movement is not something you are up to because of pain, taking walks stimulates your spine and muscles speeding up the recovery time. Healthy spine exercise such as walking is vital for spine and muscle health.
- Learn to lift heavy items correctly. When you are bending down to pick up items from a surface, you need to bend both knees, eliminating the strain on your spine, placing the pressure on your legs. When you bend correctly your spine will stay aligned and you will improve your posture ensuring improved spine health.
Healthy Spine Exercise
It is vital to consult with your chiropractor before taking up an exercise program. The advice of Chiropractor should always be kept in mind before doing some exercises that will worsen your condition. For people with back injuries or back pain, it is important to stretch the muscles correctly as this will help prevent further injury or damage. Below are some guidelines for healthy spine exercise:
Remember to stretch slowly and not to the point where you are in pain.
Breath in deeply before each stretch, do not hold your breath.
- While lying on your back, pull both of your knees up to your chest and push your head forward until you feel a gentle This exercise will stretch both your lower back and your neck.
- Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, taking half a step back with your right foot. Bend your left knee and shift your weight to your right hip. It is important to keep your right leg straight and then reach down your right leg until you feel a gentle stretch in your outer hip. (It is important to remember you should never be in pain. If you are experiencing pain, your position might be wrong or you are over stretching)
- Lie face up on the floor with your knees bent and about shoulder width apart. Now cross your right ankle over your left knee. Use your hands to slowly pull your right knee toward your left shoulder. Hold this position for 30 seconds. You should feel a stretch in your hips and buttocks. Repeat the above three times on each side.
Centurion Chiropractor is one of the leading Chiropractors when it comes to spinal adjustments and sports injuries. Don’t hesitate or live in pain because of your fears for a chiropractor. Dr Jacques Bezuidenhout has an immaculate reputation for treating these conditions. He specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of all musculoskeletal conditions, from back and neck pain, headaches and sports injuries to colic-related symptoms in babies and the treatment of postural conditions.
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