Maintaining a strong and healthy spine is essential for overall well-being. Unfortunately, though, modern life, with all its comforts and conveniences, can make it all too easy to forget about spine health. We tend to spend a large portion of our days sitting with less-than-stellar posture, which is terrible for our spines. We also tend to get less physical activity and consume fewer essential nutrients than our bodies need to thrive, which naturally has a negative impact on our spine health, too.
But taking great care of your spine isn’t difficult, and when you do, you’ll enjoy greater mobility, a reduced risk of injuries, and better overall health as you age. Let’s take a look at a few simple and highly effective things you can do to maintain a healthy spine over the long term.
Get Routine Chiropractic Care
Seeing a chiropractor for regular wellness care appointments is an excellent way to support your spine health, your mobility, and your overall well-being. Although many people think of chiropractic treatment solely as a reactionary therapy for acute or chronic pain, it’s actually designed to be preventative as well.
Many joint problems, both in the spine and peripheral joints, often begin developing long before any noticeable pain presents. And most people are dealing with subluxations (joint misalignments) they have no idea even exist. That’s where regular chiropractic adjustments and complementary therapies can be a huge help.
Think of it like visiting the dentist for preventative care: you go to keep your teeth healthy so they don’t develop cavities and other problems. The same idea applies to visiting the chiropractor. Getting routine care can help prevent problems from occurring in the first place.
Invest in a Supportive Mattress and the Right Type of Pillow
Sleeping on a supportive mattress and laying your head on the right type of pillow for your sleeping position is incredibly important for your spine health. Your spine works hard to support your body all day, and when it finally has a chance to rest, it needs support too. What kind of mattress and pillow should you have? That’s highly individual, but here are some good tips:
● Opt for a medium-firm or firm mattress that will prevent your spine from sagging while you sleep.
● If you sleep on your back, try placing a pillow underneath your knees to help minimize stress on your lumbar spine. You may also benefit from a pillow that provides extra neck support to help maintain the natural curvature of your cervical spine while you sleep.
● If you sleep on your side, try situating a pillow between your knees to give your hips additional support. As for your pillow, you’ll likely benefit from choosing one that features an extra-wide gusset to help keep your cervical spine in a natural position while you sleep.
If you’re unsure which type of mattress or pillow you should be using, a chiropractor can point you in the right direction based on any existing spine issues you may be dealing with.
Focus Your Diet on Whole Foods
Getting adequate nutrients in your daily diet isn’t just essential for maintaining a strong and healthy spine; your choice of foods impacts every system in your body. That’s why it’s best to try and focus your meals around whole, nutrient-dense foods that give your body the nutrition it needs to thrive.
Choosing foods that are high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds can help reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis and degenerative spinal conditions. Your chiropractor can fill you in on the nutrients that are well-known to support bone health and share recommendations for improving your diet if you need help.
Engage in Low-Impact Exercise and Stretching Regularly
For overall health, you should aim to get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise at least five days per week. But certain exercises — like jogging and tennis — can be hard on your spine since they involve a high degree of impact. If you’re already dealing with back pain, opt for low-impact activities like swimming, golf, walking, or water aerobics instead.
In addition to exercise, it’s also important to work on maintaining or improving your flexibility and mobility, and practicing regular, gentle stretching is an excellent way to do that. If you’re not sure which stretches and mobility exercises are appropriate for your needs, your chiropractor is an excellent resource.
Schedule Chiropractic Care in New Hope, MN Today
Whether you’ve received chiropractic care in the past or you’re ready to take your first steps toward keeping your aging spine healthy, come visit our team at Bomberg Chiropractic! We specialize in chiropractic wellness care, treatment for acute neck pain and back pain, treatment for chronic pain, prenatal chiropractic care, and much more. We also offer a wide variety of specialty, complementary therapies designed to help your spine and body thrive.
To get started or learn more about how we can help you, feel free to give us a call today at 763-450-1755, schedule an appointment online, or send us a message, and we’ll be in touch!