By: Dr. Ryan Lee
It’s Valentine’s Day, which means it’s time to treat yourself to some self-care! While we shouldn’t need a special occasion to treat ourselves with love, this time of year makes us think about the people we care about and what we can do to show them we care. One of those ways to show you care is to also take care of yourself, especially by showing your spine some love.
At Reach Health and Wellness, the premier chiropractic care office in Collegedale, TN, we’ve come up with a few ways to take care of one of your most precious body parts, your spine, in honor of the holiday of love! Here are our favorite ideas for self-care that will help your spine stay healthy and strong every day of the year.
Make a Date With Your Chiropractor
While some people may think chiropractic care is only about back and neck pain, it also helps your body integrate your daily stresses so your body can function at its absolute best! Chiropractors work to reduce pressure on nerves in your body through a series of spinal adjustments. Not only will these adjustments release endorphins that make you feel great during treatment, but they will also help your body with good posture, which we all know makes you more confident! This will give you the opportunity to enjoy more things you love.
Spend Some Quality Time With Your Massage Therapist
Massage is a wonderful way to give yourself- and your spine- some TLC. Massage therapy is associated with several health benefits, including decreased stress and reduced pain. But even if you aren’t feeling stressed or in pain, t
here are still plenty of reasons to make regular appointments with a licensed massage therapist. The benefits can include muscle strengthening, improved circulation, lowered blood pressure and better sleep—all of which are great for promoting overall wellness and helping to reduce pain from specific areas (like sore shoulders or stiff necks). And if you’re looking for a special way to treat your spine on Valentine’s Day, book an appointment for a massage.
Take Care of Your Spine with Regular Exercise
You can incorporate a variety of core-strengthening exercises into your routine. Look for exercises that focus on strengthening not only abdominal muscles, but also back muscles, because weak muscles in these areas can throw off posture and lead to back pain. Exercises such as Pilates, yoga and weight training are all great ways to strengthen both areas while improving your overall health and wellness. Staying fit is an easy way to show you care about yourself, but it’s also important to take time each day for self-care.
Show Your Spine Some Extra Love with Good Ergonomics
At home and at work, one of the best ways to practice self-love is through ergonomics. Making sure that you’re sitting in a good chair with proper lumbar support and taking breaks from sitting every hour or so can go a long way toward helping you be comfortable and healthy. If you do a lot of standing at work, you should think about standing on an anti-fatigue mat so that your knees and back aren’t taking all your weight.
Relax, Rest and Have Sweet Dreams
Getting plenty of sleep is an important part of self-care. A comfortable bed is another way to take care of your spinal health. A perfect mattress can be hard to find, but it’s essential for a good night’s sleep, and for taking care of your spine. The right bed can also reduce stress on your joints and make back pain less likely. Invest in a quality mattress and pillow, and you should wake up feeling refreshed instead of sore every morning.
Nutrition that Loves Your Spine
If you’re like most of us, you’ve probably never thought about eating to take care of your backbone. Even if you don’t think about it, there are some very easy things you can do every day to make sure that your spine is getting all of its proper vitamins and nutrients. Make sure that you’re eating foods rich in calcium and Vitamin D, which are important for keeping bones strong. So treat yourself to some chocolate dipped fruit, or even a romantic salmon dinner.
Show Your Spine Love All Year Long
A healthy spine and a healthy relationship with your body will help you feel great. Valentine’s Day is a prime time to practicing self-love. As you might have guessed, choosing self-love isn’t always easy, but it can be made easier with a few small changes to daily habits. Try incorporating some of these suggestions into your everyday routine and celebrate yourself every day, not just February 14th.
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Dr. Ryan Lee is the practicing chiropractic physician at Reach Health and Wellness Chiropractic. For his full bio, click here. *This content is strictly the opinion of Dr. Ryan Lee and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Dr. Lee does not take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.
