7 ways to love your spine!
Happy ValenSPINES Day!! It's so important to love your spine and treat it well - it's the only one you've got! Here's some tips on ways to show your spine some TLC!
1. Sit up straight
Sitting is tough on your spine! Sitting loads the discs in your spine with more pressure than standing or laying down, so if you are sitting for any period of time, it's important to sit up straight! Try to keep your head over your shoulders, to prevent leaning forward. Visualize a string from the top of your head, pulling you upright.
2. Support your low back
Sometimes it's unavoidable that we need to be sitting for a while. If your chair at home doesn't have great lumbar support, try rolling a washcloth or t-shirt and placing it at the small of your back. This helps keep your low back supported while you are sitting!
3. Take movement breaks
One of the best things you can do for your spine while working from home is get up and take movement breaks! Try setting an alarm every hour to remind yourself to get up, stretch, and take a lap around the room. When you can make the time, going for a walk outside is a great way to keep your spine moving! Daily motion is great for pumping nutrition to your discs and preventing tight muscles.
4. Re-invent your laptop
It's impossible to have great posture while working from a laptop. If the keyboard is in the right spot, the screen is off, and if the screen is in the right spot you can't reach the keyboard! The best way to remedy this is to lift your laptop screen and attach a separate keyboard. The top of your screen should be at eye level, and your keyboard should be low enough and close enough to you that your elbows can be at about a 90 degree angle.
5. Stay hydrated
Drinking water helps flush out inflammation and keeps your discs hydrated! Dehydration can also cause muscles to feel tight, so keeping well-hydrated is great way to combat muscle stiffness. As an added bonus, staying well hydrated means more trips to the bathroom, which adds a little bit of movement to break up extended periods of sitting.
6. Enjoy some exercise
In particular, weight-bearing exercise is good for your spine and helps build and maintain strong bones. If you don't love weights, you can go for a walk, run, or dance! All of these activities load the bones, which helps maintain them. We all know the saying "use it or lose it!" - it applies to your bone strength too!
7. Get adjusted!
Staying under regular chiropractic care is one of the best ways to show your spine some love! Maintaining proper alignment is not only great for spinal health, but also great for the health of your nervous system. Chiropractic adjustments help make sure that the brain is communicating well with the rest of the body so that it can keep you functioning and healing well!