All about the spine
A healthy spine makes everyday life easier and more pleasant. Often we only realise this when things start going wrong and we end up in real discomfort. But it pays to be pro-active and guard against problems before they happen. After all, the spine doesn’t just support your body in terms of posture, it also houses the spinal cord that sends and receives messages to the brain.
To function properly you need to maintain optimal health for your spine. And there are many ways to do it. Here are some of our top tips.
Healthy Spine
Healthy Spine – More than just about yoga poses
After 8 hours of sitting at a desk, you might get up and have a real urge to stretch out your back. You have a fleeting thought that you really should try out a yoga class, and whilst this is a great idea if that’s your bag, there is lots more that can help.
It’s easy to forget that you spend roughly a third of your day sleeping. How you sleep has a big impact on your spine. You need to look to ensure you have a suitable mattress and pillows for your sleeping position, and of course, ensure you are getting adequate amounts of sleep for your spine to regenerate.
Committing to a sustained regime of aerobic activity will help enormously. Cardio-vascular activities such as walking, cycling, swimming or running have multiple benefits. In terms of the spine, they help to provide better blood flow, which in turn provides more oxygen. Even low-level cardio work will help to protect the health of your bones. What’s more, suitable aerobic workouts will release endorphins which have the bonus of promoting better sleep.
As well as structured cardio exercise, try and get into the habit of getting up and moving around even for short periods of time during the day. The spine needs to be kept nimble, and if you sit for long periods at a time without moving it is very counter-productive.
One thing that many people underestimate is the importance that proper diet has on looking after the spine. Eating a balanced diet with the right amount and variety of vitamins and nutrients can reduce back problems by nourishing the bones, muscles, discs and other structures in the spine. In particular, make an effort to ensure you are including enough calcium, magnesium and vitamin D3 in your diet.
The spine and your core
To keep the spine healthy it needs the surrounding structure to support it. Undue strain will only exacerbate problems over time.
Carrying excess weight will put undue pressure on the spine. And even moderate weight-loss will be beneficial. But whatever your weight it is important to strengthen your core muscles. The core muscles help to align the skeleton and improve your posture.
A great way to ensure you are keeping your core intact is by attending regular Pilates classes.
But whatever you do, don’t neglect your spine. It’s too important.
We hope this information is useful for you. If you have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. If you like this blog, please share!
We are always happy to help.
