Healthy Backs for Work and Play
By Donna Stark
How many times have you thought to yourself “I shouldn’t be lifting this” or “Boy, this is heavier than I imagined,” yet you continued to lift the object anyway? Even as you felt your back and shoulders straining under the weight, doubting your choice of doing it alone, have you continued to go through the motions in true superhero fashion? You have more influence when it comes to avoiding back injuries than you think. Sure, it’s true that an unexpected accident may cause an injury beyond your control, but the majority of “bad backs” are often caused by an individual’s own actions. That sounds terrible, but it’s actually good news because it means that there are preventative measures that you can take to save yourself from injury.
Back-Saving Tips
Have you ever known someone who says they threw their back out by doing the most innocuous motion, like sneezing or bending over to tie their shoes? It doesn’t take much to injure yourself if your back is already compromised, so here are a few tips that can help reduce the chances of that happening.
- Take a balanced stance
- Always engage your legs and bend at your knees when lifting
- Avoid letting your back muscles do all of the work
- Avoid any twisting
- Balance the weight evenly
- Avoid straining your back or overloading your spine
- Wear a lumbar support
How you lift objects, no matter their weight, has a bearing on the health of your back. And although you may have gotten off lucky in the past, its future health is in your control.
Healthy Back with a Healthy Lifestyle
In addition to maintaining proper lifting techniques, there are other ways to keep that added stress off of your back.
- Stretch before any type of physical activity
- Stay physically active
- Strengthen your core muscles
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Invest in a good mattress
- Get adjusted by your local chiropractor
That’s right, we got your back, and regular visits to your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic will help to reduce the chance of future injuries. How? Let’s take a look.
- Removes joint restrictions
- Maintains the function of the spine
- Relieves muscle tension
- Improves balance and range of motion
The adjustments provided by your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic help the joints in your back and extremities to work correctly. They keep your body moving as it was designed to so that you can not only help your buddy move out of his apartment, but can throw your child above your head in the pool. You see, it’s not all about work. Sometimes we just need a healthy back to have fun with our loved ones as well, and with more than 400 locations nationwide, The Joint Chiropractic can help that fun continue.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Franklin, Tenn.