Everyday exercises that increase the strength of the abdomen/core along with the back muscles will optimize your body to resist spinal injuries.
Your spine goes through a lot each day. It provides structural support and houses the central nervous system that carries impulses from the brain throughout the body. When it doesn't work as it is supposed to, the entire body can be affected. Chiropractic has long been praised as a way to keep the back healthy.
The spine is the primary support for the body. When it breaks down, the body suffers. Regular chiropractic care keeps the spine properly aligned, which keeps the body in proper alignment.
Chiropractic helps with joint health as well as the health of the related muscles and ligaments. Your chiropractor can also recommend stretching and strength-building exercises to help keep your spine strong and in optimal form.
Try the following everyday exercises as the day progresses.
- Rotate the shoulders, forward and back.
- Turn the head slowly from side to side.
- Imagine an airplane taking off, just over your right shoulder. Feel the neck stretch, and follow the plane as it goes up, around and down, until it disappears behind the other shoulder. Reverse and do the same from the left side.
- When there is a break or pause in your day waiting at the elevator or for a traffic light to change pull in the abdominal muscles, tighten and hold for 8 seconds without breathing. Relax and increase the count gradually when you feel ready. After a week or so, practice breathing the way you normally do with your abdomen flat and contracted. Try this when you sit, stand, and walk.
- Before rising out of bed in the morning, push your head against the pillow and hold for 6 seconds. This strengthens the neck muscles and helps you wake up.
Continued Everyday Exercises
- As you get ready for your day, brushing teeth or shaving, pull in the abdominal muscles and hold them as hard as you can.
- Make a habit of starting your day holding stomach muscles in.
- In the car, waiting in traffic make the most of it, grab the steering wheel on either side of the wheel at three o'clock and nine o'clock. Try to pull the wheel apart and hold it for a few seconds. Then do the same but push inward. You can also push with your palms against the roof. Also push against your knees using the muscles in your forearms, chest, and abdomen.
- Waiting for an elevator, push your toe against the bottom of a wall and hold. You should feel it in your rear, abdomen and low back.
- You can strengthen your grip and arms by squeezing a solid object like an office landline phone receiver and then let go and repeat.
- While talking on the phone, stand over your desk waste-basket with legs straight, squeeze in using the muscles in your legs and hips.
- You can also choose to do some exercises that can be done anywhere and in public.
Chiropractic Improves Posture
Proper posture is beneficial for the entire body. Proper alignment keeps the muscles working correctly and in strong fashion. This prevents over wear and tear on the joints surface and keeps the muscles working effectively and efficiently. Good posture prevents injury and helps with organ function.Chiropractic optimizes overall health by keeping the body balanced and in tip-top form. Many think that its only purpose is to treat back pain, but it actually focuses on total body wellness.
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Having healthy body composition means there needs to be more lean body mass i.e. muscle mass and less body fat. Strength training/CrossFit helps by raising the metabolic rate while lowering body fat. The increased muscle strength helps maintain correct posture and body mechanics in whatever you do.Physical activity reduces the chance of injury while increasing physical performance like being able to climb stairs or carry groceries with added confidence.