5 Ways to Keep Your Spine Healthy for 2019

The new year is almost here, and you want to do everything you can to achieve your 2019 resolution of staying healthy. Maintaining good health can mean a lot of things, including keeping a wholesome diet, beginning a strategic workout regimen, and sustaining the parts of your body that are vital to an active lifestyle. One part of the body that always needs to stay intact is the spine. At Spine Solutions, we are recommending five simple tips to try out this new year in order to keep your spine healthy.

Stretch daily

Start the day off with a good stretch. Excessive physical activity can cause the thoracic spine to tighten up, weakening flexibility and overall movement. Enacting proper stretch positions can expand muscles and improve overall back health. Live Healthy describes detailed poses to try when stretching, including the Cat-Cow stretch, Forward Bends, and the Sphinx pose. Remember to perform these stretches at your own pace.

Maintain good posture

Good posture means more than just looking self-assured. According to the American Chiropractic Association, “Good posture helps us stand, walk, sit, and lie in positions that place the least strain on supporting muscles and ligaments during movement and weight-bearing activities.” Maintaining good posture allows for proper bone and joint alignment, muscle strain prevention, and stress reduction. To preserve your posture, try to keep shoulders relaxed, let your arms hang naturally down the sides of the body, and keep your feet about shoulder-width apart.

Try a new sleeping position

Sometimes a simple change to your sleeping position can completely transform your spine’s resting experience. Whether you choose to sleep on your back in a reclined position or on your side in the fetal position, maintaining correct spinal alignment is key to resting peacefully and painlessly. Also, using a pillow as a sleeping tool can improve your resting period. Healthline suggests trying to sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees, on your stomach with a pillow under your abdomen, or on your back with a pillow under your knees.

Update your shoe collection

To prepare for the new year, make sure you wear shoes that are appropriate for walking and standing at different times throughout the day. You need shoes that give you the right support for proper posture. For adults, flexibility, sole support and style come to mind when choosing the perfect pair.

Stay hydrated

H2O is known to revitalize every bodily system, even the interworking vertebrae within our spines. With a hydrated spine, our bodies can perform at their best, minimizing pain and maximizing possibilities. Each person’s water intake varies based on age, sex, activity level, and even where you live. Other fluids existing in the foods you eat or in the beverages you drink contribute to your daily water intake. The Institute of Medicine suggests men drink about 13 cups a day and women 9 cups, but there is not a set amount.

To achieve your healthiest year yet, consider trying these tips to treat your spine with care. For more information on how to maintain a healthy spine during the new year, call Spine Solutions at (954) 329-1769 or email us at info@spinesolutionsfl.com.