Do You Know About The Incredible Benefits of Physical Therapy for the Spine?
Your spine is the source of nearly every movement in your body. Your spinal health even affects the way you breathe.
Without a healthy spine, the daily tasks we do with ease can become exceedingly difficult. No one wants to struggle to sit up straight, bend over, walk, move easily, or sleep.
However, if you have been living with chronic back pain, you already know this harsh fact.
Thankfully, there are many ways to improve your spinal health – and boost the quality of your overall health as well. Whether you are currently facing a chronic pain condition or simply wanting to improve your future mobility with preventative health measures, we can help you take control of your spinal health. Keep reading to discover how, and be sure to contact Comber Physical Therapy and Fusion Chiropractic in Williamsburg to schedule an appointment!
Are you living with back pain?
If you feel like you’ve been locked out of your life due to your chronic back pain, you aren’t alone. Approximately 80 percent of Americans have experienced back pain or will experience it in the future. With these statistics in mind, spinal health maintenance has never been more important.
Here are five straightforward ways you can begin to improve your spinal health, starting today.
1. Invest in a supportive mattress. You likely know that sleeping well is a critical component of good health, but many people underestimate the importance of a quality mattress.
Most people benefit from a firm to medium-firm mattress that can support the spine during your sleep. However, it would be wise to discuss your individual needs with a doctor or physical therapist before purchasing a new mattress.
2. Get active. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), your likelihood of experiencing low back pain is higher if you’re not active or physically fit. Now, depending on your current spinal health, you may not be able to participate in highly strenuous activities like sprinting or weight lifting. That is okay! Any kind of physical activity is better than nothing, so if you have been out of the game for a while, try simple activities like walking or light swimming.
3. Stay hydrated. Proper hydration has numerous positive effects on the body, and good spinal health is definitely one of them. Staying hydrated is key to maintaining soft tissue elasticity and fluidity in joints, two critical elements of good spinal health.
When spinal discs become dehydrated, they can shrink in size, which in turn makes our bodies more susceptible to painful spinal conditions such as herniated discs.
4. Limit how often you’re sitting every day. Spending too much time in a seated position does more than just leave your spine stiff, sore, and in pain. Over a lifetime, excessive sitting (and a sedentary lifestyle) makes you more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers including, breast, colon, colorectal, endometrial, and epithelial ovarian.
Sitting for long periods also places stress on the muscles and discs of your back and neck. This leads to tightness in the hip flexors and poor overall spinal health.
If you work at a flexible office or from home, try investing in a standing desk to limit your sitting time and make sure to take frequent stretching/walking breaks.
5. Don’t ignore symptoms. It’s no secret that many people have dealt with back pain at some point. But this does not mean that you should be resigned to living with painful symptoms, or write off aches and pains as a normal part of life.
You deserve to be comfortable in your own skin. And while there are many actions you can take as an individual to improve your spinal health, in the face of serious spinal issues, you would be wise to consult a licensed physical therapist or chiropractor.
How physical therapy can help your spinal health
At Comber Physical Therapy and Fusion Chiropractic, our number one goal is to ensure that you can return to the active life you enjoy and deserve. For patients seeking to improve or maintain their spinal health, here are just a few of the treatment modalities we offer:
- Manual therapy, or the manipulation of different parts of the body through massage and stretching
- The McKenzie Method, which has been used to treat pain in the spine by licensed PTs for over 30 years
- Chiropractic care, including manual adjustments and ergonomic and lifestyle adjustments
- Gait retraining exercises and postural re-education
Don’t wait for another second, get on the fast track to a healthier life!
If you are ready to welcome a new, healthier version of yourself, contact our office today to schedule a consultation with one of our licensed physical therapists or chiropractors.
Together we can work to combat your chronic back pain, improve your spinal health, and enhance your quality of life.
Tags: Comber Physical Therapy, natural treatment, natural pain relief, spine health, spinal health, physical therapy, physical therapist, health and wellness, Comber Physical Therapy and Fusion Chiropractic
