Spinal care
Use these two main spinal care rules to keep your spine healthy and help avoid the recurrence of problems. (For more specific, day to day tips, click on the round Free Spinal Tips link above.)Rule No.1Keep your spine in the “Neutral Position” as much as possible. The Neutral Position is the straight/upright position your spine is in when you are standing looking at the horizon. The more twisted or bent you are, the more out of this neutral position you are and the more likely your joints will seize up. In addition, the longer you are out of the neutral position the more likely you are to run into problems. As a result, how we sit at a desk, sit on couches and the position we sleep in at night are very important – because we do these things for prolonged periods of time.
Rule No.2Move. Every time we move, our spinal joints produce a fluid which lubricates the joints and provides nutrients for joint health. Without movement our spinal joints begin to seize. Today’s lifestyles are very sedentary and this can create problems. Exercise, especially cardiovascular exercise, helps enormously. So what are the best forms or exercise for our spines? Walking, swimming, cross-trainers, steppers, Tai Chi … exercise which moves your spine smoothly and repetitiously without jarring the spine. (Running, especially down-hill, can jar your spine if you land heavily on ‘heel strike’, so if your lower back is problematic try running uphill on a treadmill to lessen the impact).