We rely on our spines to do a lot but are you doing enough to look after yours?
Welcome to Spinal Health week. As a chiropractor, it’s a fab opportunity for me to share my wisdom about those bunch of bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles that help hold you together from head to toe otherwise known as your spine. We are going to explore how well you look after your back and provide a few hot tips on how you can improve your spinal health.
What is the big deal about your spine?
Your spine is a marvellous piece of engineering made up of the following:
• 33 vertebrae
• 23 intervertebral discs (shock absorbers)
• over 100 joints
• 220+ ligaments (join bone to bone)
• Contains more than 120 muscles
• The spinal cord who is home to 13.5 million neurons
These structures work together to enable easy fluid movement of the body, reduce the amount of force transferred through the spine, act as a channel for our brain to communicate to the rest of the body and gives us the ability to stand up straight. Our spines have evolved to ensure we can move with minimal stress to all our joints, muscles and ligaments. Compared to even 100 years ago, we now live a much sedentary lifestyle which our spines aren’t so happy about.
1 in 6 Australians suffer from back painAustralian Institute of Health and Welfare
When we sit, repeatedly push or lift at work, pick and carry our kids around or are hunched over our phones or laptops for long periods of time it causes increased pressure and stress on your spine often resulting in low back pain, neck pain and headaches.
Just to point out how common this is 1 in 6 Australians suffer from back pain.
In 2011, back pain made it to the podium as the 3rd leading cause of disease burden in Australia after cancer and cardiovascular disease.
To get amongst spinal health week I’ll be elaborating on the following hot tips so you can keep your spinal health in check:
Improve your posture fitness
Overtime poor posture can really take its toll on your back and can lead to poor spinal health. Being aware of your posture when standing, sitting, driving, working or schooling can help reduce the stress on your neck and spine.
You’ve got to move it, move it!
Increasing your daily movement levels can have a huge impact on your spinal health and general well-being. The recommended guidelines suggest 30 minutes a day is enough to keep your spine and body happy. It doesn’t matter what you do, just move it, move it!
Work on your Mobility
Improve your ability to move and range of movement
Enhance your stability
Support your spine by strengthening your core. As strong as your back is, it cant hold you upright on its own. Due to the copious amounts of sitting we engage in, often our core isnt as strong as it should be. When was the last time you worked on your abdominals?
Become more supple
Lack of flexibility can result in stiffness and muscle soreness in your back. Incorporate stretching into your daily routine, relieve strain and increase circulation to back.
As a chiropractor, the majority of my study was dedicated to the spine and the nervous system. I am qualified to address musculoskeletal disorders and can help relieve the symptoms of back pain. So, if you are 1 of 6 Aussies that suffer from back pain then why not wander into Wholesome Health Chiropractic and up the ante on your spinal health. Why not treat your spine during spinal health week.
