In Between Chiropractor Visits

Healthy back maintenance is important, because poor posture can lead to pain and serious injury. With more and more of us consistently hunched over our laptops for 10 hours a day, a healthy back is more important these days than ever.

The muscles in the back are unlike many other muscles in the body because they are almost always in use; therefore, healthy back maintenance is extremely important. Maintaining a healthy back is also important because of the functions your back serves. You might have never really thought about it, but your back is the key to your existence: it holds your torso in an upright position throughout your day, assists you every time you pick something up (from a brush to shopping bags), supports your posture while you sit in your chair and even assist you while you sleep.

That being said, there are many ways to maintain a healthy back and keep your back in check between chiropractic visits. Taryn Dagostino of Life Within Chiropractic advocates that their office “educates their patients in what they eat and what they do outside of the appointments to maximize their strength and health.” In addition, the office re-scans, re-checks and re-evaluates patients to understand what is not in balance, whether it is physical, emotional or chemical. Dagostino is quick to note that Life Within Chiropractic “isn’t just about adjustments, but a healthy lifestyle,” though again emphasizing nutrition and exercise.

So, tip #1: Eat Healthy (and Color Matters)
For many reasons, maintaining a healthy back being one of them, it is important to eat fruits and vegetables. Scientists are regularly reporting new health benefits associated with healthy foods. Not only is it important to eat fruits and vegetables but to eat a different variety of colors because each color has something different to offer. Red fruits and vegetables contain natural plant pigments called lycopene or anthocyanins. Lycopene in tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit may reduce the risk of several types of cancer, especially prostate cancer. Anthocyanins in strawberries, raspberries, red grapes and other fruits and vegetables act as powerful antioxidants that protect cells from damage. Antioxidants are also linked with keeping our hearts healthy. Additionally, there are other healthy pigments found in orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and white fruits and vegetables. Make sure to keep all types of fruits and vegetables cleaned and ready to eat, even if it’s just a topping on your pizza or as a snack; they will aid in keeping your back strong,

Tip #2: Exercise to the Core
If you want to prevent or ease existing back pain, exercise is the answer. And it’s not just the high-impact kind, but regular, moderate exercise that will help you develop a strong and healthy back. When you’re fit and active, your back and abdominal muscles grow strong and are better able to support your spine, tendons and ligaments. Even if you’ve never experienced severe back pain, exercise can help prevent the sudden cramps and spasms that many of us experience. Sudden movements can cause these contractions to happen, but they can also occur spontaneously when muscles are straining to support our body upright. The stronger your muscles are, the less likely they’ll be to contract in this way as we go about our daily activities. While cardiovascular exercise strengthens back muscles, the key to preventing back pain in the long-term is to work on developing your core muscles. Core muscles are responsible for supporting your whole torso. They are like a network of inner-linked muscles located deep in the center of your trunk. Because most of us don’t actually use our core muscles, they become “switched off,” so we’re not aware of them and they stop doing their job. But through exercises that stimulate your core muscles, you can “switch them on.” Your whole torso will be stronger and you’ll be less likely to experience back pain.

Your back is one of the most complex, efficient and wonderful parts of your body. It is made up of 24 separate vertebrae, supported by tendons, ligaments and muscles, ranging in size from the huge latissimus dorsi, that stretches from your shoulders all the way down your back, to the tiny teres, minor muscles that pull your upper arms towards your shoulder blades. Your back is extremely flexible and supple, but it’s also understandable that a part of your body with so many moving parts can prove to be such a trouble zone. Therefore, it is important to maintain and keep up your back in-between chiropractic visits.

Life Within Chiropractic specializes in all your chiropractic needs, including chiropractic for children, auto accidents and trauma, and chiropractic for athletes. Owner Dr. Marc Gottlieb is a nationally recognized speaker, where he presents his knowledge on a wide range of topics including Lifestyle Awareness, Stress Management, Nutrition and Goal Setting, along with Chiropractic. For more information, visit Lifewithincenter.com.

Discover more  San Diego chiropractors and check out our Beauty and Health blog for more tips.