When you hear the word “chiropractor”, what comes to mind? You probably picture yourself heading into a chiropractor’s office for an adjustment, because some type of back or neck pain has been bothering you. If so, you’d be correct! Chiropractic adjustments are our specialty.
However, that’s not all we do! Our true goal is to help you avoid the misalignments in your spine that can cause pain in the first place while helping you maintain wellness in other ways.
Here are 6 suggestions that can help you to avoid neck and back pain and improve your quality of life while you age.
Sleep smart. Sleeping on your stomach forces you to turn your head far to the right or left, which keeps your upper spine in a twisted position for long periods of time. It can also cause a slight over-extension of the lower back. Sleep on your back or side, instead, placing pillows strategically to keep your spine aligned in a neutral position.
Start your morning with a stretch. After waking each morning, start your day with a simple stretching routine. This relieves any accumulated tension in the body, and helps you start the day with muscles that are relaxed and ready to be used.
Use proper sitting posture. Sit with feet planted on the floor in front of you, rather than crossing your legs. This is especially important for those who work at a desk all day. Standing desks are also growing in popularity.
When driving, use your headrest. Doing this will lift your chin and align your neck properly, so that you can avoid building tension in your neck. This is especially important if you spend a lot of time in the car.
Men: Don’t keep your wallet in a back pocket. This lifts one side of your pelvis slightly as you sit, throwing everything out of alignment.
Exercise wisely. Typical sit-ups and crunches are actually not the best exercises for your abdominal muscles, and they can cause strain in your lower back. Try traditional planks and side planks for a good core workout that won’t trigger pain.
Watch out for “modern” misalignment problems. If you work on a computer, position your screen so that it’s straight in front of you. You don’t want to be looking up or down all day, because this will strain your neck. The same goes for your cell phone; looking down at it will create a problem called “text neck”. Hold it level, in front of you, when using it.
Regular chiropractic adjustments. If you’re experiencing back or neck pain, give us a call to schedule a consultation. If you simply are looking to avoid potential back or neck injuries, regular chiropractic treatments can keep your spine health and prevent painful conditions before they start. When you visit us, we can also examine your habits and offer tips to prevent the pain from returning in the future.