Although it is a crucial part of our body, many people forget about the importance of taking care of their spine until their neck or back begins to throb with pain. Whether you are guilty of this or you are already making an effort to maintain your spinal health, the following information will be beneficial.
So, without further ado, let’s look at why spinal care is so vital, as well as the role your spine plays in your overall health and what you can do to ensure it is in optimal condition.
Why is spinal health important?
Your spine is responsible for fulfilling several important roles in your body including controlling the coordination of movement, providing support for your head, and protecting your central nervous system (CNS).
Within your spine are numerous ligaments, muscles, and tendons that serve to connect all the parts of your body, while also controlling the function of every cell, organ, and tissue. Any change in your spine’s structure or ability to function appropriately can irritate your CNS or the nerves it is supposed to protect as they travel to and from your muscles and organs.
How does your spine impact your overall health?
It is its role as the protector of your CNS that makes spinal health so important for your overall physical condition. Your CNS is involved in every system of the body from the circulatory and respiratory to the digestive, eliminative, immune, and hormonal networks. As a result, your spine has a central role in your health and wellbeing. For instance, a healthy spine enables your immune system to work more efficiently, so that it can fight off germs and respond appropriately to toxins.
Maintaining the health of your spine
To keep your spine operating at its absolute best, incorporate the following tips into your daily routine:
• Exercise and stretch your abs and back
A crucial aspect of good spinal health involves abdominal and back exercises. These exercises don’t need to be complex and a even a few minutes per day is extremely helpful. Making sure these muscle are properly maintained helps support your spine and reduce your risk of injury. If you are not familiar with the types of exercises to do to promote spinal health, you should ask your chiropractor.
• Pay attention to how you lift things
Twisting the wrong way can cause substantial damage to your spine. To lift correctly you should:
o Stand as close to the object as possible.
o Use your legs instead of your upper body or back to pull the item up (this can be made easier by bending your knees so that your arms are at the same height as the object.)
o Be sure to keep your back straight when lifting.
o Never try to lift something that is too heavy.
• Sleep well
Using the right pillow and mattress are crucial to providing your spine with the support it needs to keep stress off your muscles and ligaments. Choose a mattress and pillow that promote proper neck alignment. It is also a good idea to sleep on your side instead of your stomach as sleeping on your stomach can put excess pressure on your spine.
• Sit up straight
When you sit down, the discs in your lower back are subjected to 3 times more pressure than when you are standing. In addition, many people have the tendency to slouch and lean forward while sitting which only results in lower back pain and muscle tension. It’s vitally important to sit up straight.
• Visit a chiropractor
Chiropractors are specially trained medical professionals who focus on treating the spine and musculoskeletal system. He or she focuses on keeping your spine healthy through manual adjustment, exercise, education of ergonomics, and other treatments as needed.
Although it is a significant part of your body, it is not difficult to maintain optimal spinal health. By following the advice of your chiropractor and the tips discussed above this should go a long way to helping prevent back pain.
If the need ever arises, however, visit your chiropractor sooner rather than later to ensure any problems can be identified quickly and an appropriate treatment plan developed.