Your spine is something you probably don’t think that much about. That is, until something goes wrong. Whether you’re having trouble sleeping, you had an accident, or it’s getting in the way of playing your favorite sport, an unhealthy back can cause a lot of pain that can interfere with your life.
Don’t leave your spine to its own devices until it’s too late! Whether you’re currently dealing with pain or you want to keep your spine as healthy as possible for as long as possible, these tips will help.
Consider Regenerative Medicine Before Surgery
Whether you have experienced an injury or an accident, or you suffer from a degenerative disease or are dealing with years of strenuous pressure on your back, you may think it’s time to start talking about surgery. Although surgery is an option, it shouldn’t necessarily be your first option.
Before you are willing to enter the operating room, consider regenerative medicine first. Regenerative medicine includes non-operative treatment solutions instead of invasive procedures. It harnesses the body’s natural ability to rebuild damaged tissue and heal injuries by targeting the underlying source of pain with treatments that include stem cell therapy, platelet-rich plasma treatment, and prolotherapy. These therapies have the ability to heal your spine when surgery may have been your only option just a few years ago.
Check Your Posture
If you don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the health of your spine, you probably don’t spend much time thinking about your posture either. However, good posture is extremely important to your overall health. Not to mention, poor posture can put a lot of strain on your spine, which can cause you to experience pain.
Getting good posture isn’t always easy, especially since so many of us spend hour after hour sitting at a desk in front of a computer. There are a lot of devices and contraptions out there that can help, but you don’t need any of them to fix your posture if you’re determined. It’s all about keeping your back straight by rolling back your shoulders and sticking out your chest. Not only will it keep your spine in alignment, it will make you look healthier too!
Exercise the Right Way
Exercise is important to a healthy body, so it should come as no surprise that it’s important for a healthy spine too. Just moving your body is a good place to start. Going for walks is a great way to keep your spine healthy!
Stretches are a great way to care for your spine. A few different stretches you can try include:
- Bridges
- Knee-to-chest stretches
- Lower back rotational stretches
- Pelvic tilts
- Lying lateral leg lifts
- Cat stretches
- Seated lower back rotational stretches
Technique is important whenever you’re exercising or stretching. For example, running can be a healthy way to get exercise, but only if you maintain a healthy stride and maintain the proper runner’s posture.
Sleep on the Right Mattress
Fluffy down mattress toppers and pillow-like mattresses are the epitome of comfort—or are they? Although a soft mattress may be comfortable at first, you’ll find that it ends up making your back hurt as the night goes on.
If you’re dealing with back pain or want to maintain a healthy back, you should choose a firmer mattress. Memory foam is an ideal material for supporting back health, but only if the mattress also has a firm core. Otherwise, the mattress will deform over time and end up causing more back pain.
Wear the Right Shoes
You spend eight hours in bed every night, so choosing the right mattress is important. You also spend a lot of time on your feet. Even if you work at a desk during the day, the time you spend standing should be supported by the right shoes to keep your back healthy.
Flat shoes are better than heels, but only if they also contain a supportive insole. Ballet flats and flip flops can be just as bad for your feet as heels if you spend a lot of time standing!
Make sure you wear supportive shoes when walking, but you may want to wear them around the house too. Supportive shoes are important while you’re doing laundry or cooking in the kitchen!
Don’t let your spine cause you pain simply because you didn’t think to take care of it. Keep playing the sports you love, wake up in the morning without back pain, and lift up your grandkids to give them a hug because you take back health seriously!