7 Ways to Be Kind to Your Spine

Our spine does a lot for you: It moves you about all day long, bending and reaching, slumping and jumping, and supporting all your internal organs. Take a little time to be kind to your spine. Here's how:

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1. Make Exercise a PRIORITY

To be kind to your spine, exercise is your first, best option.

Exercise distributes nutrients to your spinal discs and soft tissues
Strengthening muscles (such as abdominals) reduces load on your spine
Stretching and strengthening speed healing for spine injuries
Too sore to work out? If your spine is injured or stressed, water exercise can be a big help. Water reduces stresses by reducing gravity and it provides resistance in a supportive environment.

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2. Take Your Spine for a Walk

The gentlest exercise is walking, and it's especially kind to your spine.

Walking builds core muscles that help keep the body upright and take demand off your spine

Walking improved flexibility and strengthens bones

Walking helps distribute nutrients throughout the muscles and spinal structures

If you are suffering from back pain, start with short walks or walks in a pool.

See Related: Wilmington NC Walking Trails To Enjoy Year Around

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3. Use the Best Lifting Practices

New lifters in particular will want to make sure they're using proper form. To reduce stress on your spine, keep your chest forward, lead with the hips, and use your knees. Improper lifting can cause painful back injuries.

Experienced lifters who have occasional injuries will want to check their practices to be sure they're using the best lifting practices.

See Related: 6 Crucial Tips for Beginner Lifters

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4. Be Kind to Your Mind, Too

Take the time to engage your mind as well as your body. Stress can cause physical discomfort, and reducing stress will be a kindness to your back.

If you have pain from a back injury, meditation can offer relief. Daily meditation is especially helpful for people suffering from chronic pain and can reduce the need for other therapies and medication.

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5. Protect Your Posture to Be Kind to Your Spine

People are made to stand upright, but we aren't made to sit all day. Office workers are especially vulnerable to spinal injuries from poor sitting posture.

Get a seat and desk that allow ergonomic support of your spine, and take a moment every ten minutes or so to make sure you're correctly using the support.

Consider working at a standup desk or sit on an exercise ball.

Get up and walk around every half hour to move joints and muscles and reduce tension in the spine.

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6. Let Your Spine Sleep Well

Depending on your sleep position, get a pillow that supports the curve of your neck and spine. A side sleeper will need a thicker pillow to keep the head aligned with the spine. Eight hours is a long time for your spine to be misaligned, so be kind to your spine and get a pillow that supports your head correctly.

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7. Chiropractic Care Is Kind to Your Spine

At King Chiropractic Hand & Foot, we strive to help improve your athletic performance through chiropractic treatments and therapies. And when injuries happen, we provide pain relief solutions that really heal. To be kind to your spine, call King Chiropractic Hand & Foot in Wilmington today at (910) 777-7228 and get help with your own spine's particular needs.