When it comes to our spinal health, it’s something that we may not pay too much attention to. This could be due to the fact that it’s not something that we physically see. However, spinal issues occur in about 80% of the population and can limit much of your daily activity especially if the pain becomes severe. Most of the people who experience spinal pain are overweight, smoke, or are lifting heavy objects often. However, Utah Accident Clinic professionals have been seeing more people come in because of poor posture, overextending their reach, and their increase of use in technology. We have a few tips that can help with those cases to improve your spinal health.
Technology Use
For those of us who are sitting at an office desk all day using your phone and desktop, it’s important that we do our best to take care of our spinal health. The easiest change you can make is the way you sit. You always want to make sure that both of your feet are firmly flat on the floor and your back is being supported. Position your computer or phone in a way that will allow you to use your eyes to look down and not your entire head. Often times we push our head forward to read the screen below and this can cause strain to our spines.
Sitting Correctly for Optimized Spinal Health
In addition to the information discussed with technology use, there are some additional tips you can do to improve spinal health. When sitting, try your best not to roll your shoulders forward. Keeping your shoulders up right, will also keep your back straight up and help with posture. Also, try not to push your body too forward when sitting. If you feel your lower back being pushed out, you may be causing an unnatural curve in your back; and instead of sitting up straight, you’re bending your spine.
Standing
If you are sitting for most of the day, one of the most important things you need to tell yourself to do is to stand up and stretch your back. If you are standing for long periods of times, try to keep your head leveled as if you’re balancing a book up there and keep one foot just in front of the other while slightly bending both knees. This will release some of that pressure in your lower back. You can also practice shifting your weight from your toes to heels, and vice versa so you’re not overcompensating on one part of the foot, which will ultimately affect your spine.
Spinal Health During Sleep
Even though your mattress may be the softest thing you’ve slept on, it doesn’t mean that your back is relaxed. You want to try your best to avoid sleeping on your back because this adds about 50 pounds of pressure to your spine. If you must sleep on your back, place a pillow under your knees, this could help to reduce the pressure. A better way to sleep would be on your side with a pillow between your knees. Always sleep in a way that is comfortable and not in a position that adds any extra stress to your spine. Sleeping properly is one of the best tips for spinal health.
Reaching
If you find that an object you’re trying to grab is out of reach, don’t overcompensate your stretch just to get it. This could put some serious strain on your back and neck. Instead, grab a stool to help you. If the object is lower, get down on your knees to grab it. Get your whole body as close as you can to the object so you don’t over reach. Overall, we hope these tips for spinal health help you on your wellness path. If you want to learn more, contact a Chiropractor in Provo, Utah.
