How Your Spine Impacts Your Health and What You Can Do to Improve It

It’s essential to care for your spine always, even when you aren’t experiencing back pain, because it has a major impact on other parts of your body. Some ways that your spine impacts your overall health include the following:

• Support: The spine supports the entire body, transferring the torso’s weight onto our hips and legs. Many muscles attach directly to the spine, as well as organs that hang from it.
• Stability: The spine stabilizes our body. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to stand up straight!
• Mobility: A healthy spine is flexible and allows us to move freely. Its natural curve and internal discs act as a spring system that allows us to run, jump, and walk without getting injured.

Tips to Keep Your Spine Healthy

Like other parts of the body, the spine needs to be cared for in order to stay healthy. Here are some things you can do to protect your spine.

● Be smart when you lift: Anytime you lift something heavy, make sure you are lifting with your legs, not your back. Ask for help if something is too heavy.
● Stay active: It sounds counterintuitive when you have a sore back but staying active is key for keeping your spine healthy. Low-impact cardio, like walking or swimming, can keep you fit and loosen up your spine. Stretching is also vital to gain flexibility and improve your range of motion.
● Maintain a healthy weight: Carrying weight around can strain your lower back and add stress to the muscles near your spine. Eat a healthy diet and exercise daily to keep your weight in check.
● Sleep well: Getting enough sleep is essential for overall good health. Your body makes repairs as you sleep, so skipping out on rest regularly will cause damage. Sleep on your side to avoid putting additional pressure on your spine.
● Drink lots of water: Being hydrated helps your joints retain their elasticity. If you are dehydrated, your spinal discs can shrink, leading to a more painful injury, like herniation.

What to Do if Your Spine is Injured

Sometimes, even when you take care of your spine, you end up with back pain or an injury. That’s when it’s time to see a professional.

A chiropractor is the only doctor that is trained to detect and correct vertebral subluxations. In other words, finding misalignments in the spine and putting them back in to place. A Doctor of Chiropractic can work with you to determine what area of your spine is causing your pain. After identifying the segment, a chiropractor will adjust that area and return it to its normal integrity. After that, he or she can instruct you with a proper care plan to maintain a healthy spine and avoid further injury.

At McKenna Family Chiropractic, we want you to feel your best every day. Dr. Will can help you determine what is causing your spinal pain and work with you to make changes that will improve your spinal health and, by extension, the health of your entire body.