Valentine’s is here and another distraction as the shops once again fill with temptation. Now while I am not suggesting we do not take the time to appreciate our loved ones, what I am going to suggest is we take a little time to appreciate ourselves and show some love to our spine.
Of course, as a chiropractor the spine is my favourite thing! But arguably it is the most valuable and precious part of your entire body and here are some exciting facts as to why we should show some love to our spine, along with my top tips for spinal appreciation.
Why is our spine so important?
1. The Spinal Cord
Unfortunately we don’t think about how important our spine is until we make reference to spinal cord injuries. Why can these be catastrophic for someone? Because the spinal cord is the communication pathway for the entire body; any issues with the function of the spinal cord can damage all functions of the body. From movement to digestion and even breathing.
The most important thing we should appreciate about our spine is that it is protecting our spinal cord.
2. As the body moves, the brain grooves
Your brain is what keeps you alive, it is what controls every function within you. However there is a symbiotic relationship between the brain and the body where by the brain is only kept active and alive from signals sent to it by movement of the body. This movement message is registered in the spine. If the spine fails to move properly, this stops the signals to the brain and therefore can damage the brain health.
Keeping your spine healthy and mobile improves your brain.
3. Simply comfort
Back pain is so common, most of us will get it at some point in our life. And if you have, you know it is all consuming. There is nothing you can do without feeling the pain.
This pain doesn’t come on over night, it is usually down to years of poor spine health and bad habits.
Don’t wait for the pain, take a proactive approach to avoid the debilitating nature of back pain.
And what can you do?
Here are my top 3 tips to show love to your spine:
1. Simply move more
Try to get up and stretch every 20 mins and commit to two 10-minute walks per day.
2. Ask for help
If you are not seeing a chiropractor, consider doing so. Have someone to help you get the essential movement back in to your spine.
3. Understand it
Knowing your spine is key. Have you attended one of our ‘Get Results Faster’ workshops? These are free to anyone in care at Epoch or not. Learn more about your spine and how to help yourself.
With love,
Tom
