Regular adjustments are one piece to maintaining a healthy spine, but what you do on your own time plays an important role, too.
Sleep. Your body needs the downtime to rest, repair, and recover from the activities of the day. And it’s not just about how much you sleep, but also how you sleep. Your mattress and pillows may be contributing to aches and pains, or spinal misalignment. You should sleep on a supportive mattress and find a pillow that properly supports your neck. Not sure what all that means? Talk with your chiropractor about what types of pillows and mattresses may be best for your body.
Hydrate. Grab your water bottle, fill it, refill it, and keep drinking from it all day long. The discs in your spine consist largely of water, which allows them to act as cushions to absorb spinal stress. If a disc begins to lose water, it begins to shrink. The disc then becomes unable to absorb stress, which can lead to loss of movement or pain. By keeping your body hydrated, the discs stay healthy and keep your spine flexible.
Exercise. You know it. We know it. Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. It helps regulate your weight. The fewer extra pounds you carry around all day, the less stress is placed on your spine. This in turn reduces your risk of injury. Exercise also encourages the flow of nutrients within the spine and keeps your joints flexible.
If you feel like you need improvement in all three areas, try focusing on just one healthy habit each week (or even each month) so that you have the time and energy to really make the change in your routine.