Good Spine Health This Summer

Don’t let back pain stop you from enjoying the summer! Even the smallest aches and pains could keep you on the couch instead of enjoying some quality time with your family. There are easy activities and exercises that support your spine that allow you to enjoy your summer to the fullest.

• Keep your core strong – Good Spine-health starts with supporting your core muscles. Strong abdominal and flexor muscles will take pressure off your lower back and support your spine properly. Simple abdominal exercises that take the pressure of your spine include crunches and planking. Holding the plank position is an excellent core conditioning activity that supports proper posture and benefits your balance. Both planking and crunches are activities that can be completed during a workout or during television commercial breaks.

• Workout in the pool. A great way to keep your spine healthy and enjoy the outdoors is to exercise in the pool. Water reduces the stress on your joints while adding some resistance to your workout. By walking in the water, you are building muscles that keep your body upright while relieving pressure on your joints. A more advanced workout than walking that expands your back is holding a “superman” position in the water. Have your hands on the edge of the pool, and stretch your legs out to where you are almost flat on your stomach. This position will stretch both your back and shoulder muscles.

• Yoga. If you are looking a new activity this summer you should look no further than yoga. Yoga advocates appropriate body alignment and correct posture, which will assist the natural position of the spine. Yoga poses work to strengthen abdominal muscles and back muscles that can help you avoid back pain. Holding a pose from anywhere from 10 to 60 seconds improves relaxation and flexibility in your muscles and joints.

• Stretch properly. It is important to keep a few things in mind while performing strengthening activities or exercises. Make sure to go at your comfortable pace, you are working to support your spine, if proper technique is not used you can do more harm than good to your body. Go slow and try to avoid quick jerks and movements. Finally, make sure to breathe while exercising, breathing allows for proper blood circulation and a healthy workout.

Don’t allow aches and pains to hold you back from enjoying your summer. If you are looking for any more information on positive activities and exercises that promote proper spine health please feel free to contact us today.