Our spine is one of the most important and yet complex structures of our body. It makes good sense to look after it and maintain it at its best so we can enjoy our lives worry-free and healthy.
On World Spine Day today, we are going to share some quick and simple tips to keep you and your spine at its best.
- Movement is improvement
Our body is designed to move and not be still. With the modern lifestyle, we are simply spending way too much time in front of a computer, on a chair, on a couch and not moving enough. Simply day to day routines, such as walking instead of driving to the shops down the road, 15-20 minutes light jogs twice a week, walking stairs instead of taking a lift can all add movement and promote your trunk muscle function.
- Choose the right chair
Typically for someone that works in the office, you spend 8 hours a day sitting, 1 hour in total commuting whether by bus or driving, sitting, and watching TV, having dinner at home, sitting. We do spend a lot of time sitting so it only makes good sense to pick the right chairs. Pick the chair that’s right for you! Sit fully back on the chair, ensure there is a good lumbar support for your low back and lean back into it to support your low back. Consult us at The Brisbane Spine Clinic for one of our spine consultants to guide you!
- Choose the right bed and pillow
Picking the right bed and pillow is vital considering we spend a significant portion of our day asleep. Your bed should not be too soft or too hard, but it needs to be supportive and offers some flexibility when you sleep on it. Test it before you buy it, a good bed should not be too stiff or too soft that you sink into the mattress and difficult to get out. Pillow height and type are also important factors too, again, choosing a supportive pillow that offers some flexibility and bounce when you squeeze it is usually a good guideline, and position your pillow to just above your shoulder, so it supports the whole surface area your neck and shoulder, don’t allow for your neck and pillow to have empty space when you sleep.
- Wear supportive shoes
Our feet form the foundation of our body and especially spine when we stand or walk, it makes sense to have supportive shoes to ensure optimal function of our spine. Your shoes should have good support under and around your heel, be flexible but not floppy and have good padding underneath your foot arch. Corrective foot orthotics may be necessary if recommended by your spine consultants or podiatrist.
- Consult your trusted spine consultant
Sometimes despite our best effort to maintain and keep our body healthy, accidents or traumatic injuries to the spine does occur. Please do not put off treatment, spare the time in your day to have your spine examined and treated accordingly. Nothing is more important than your own health, here at The Brisbane Spine Clinic, our experienced spine consultants will be more than willing to help and work with your busy schedule.
So there you go, that’s our simple tips to help you keep up with spine health. Our team at The Brisbane Spine Clinic is always here and always ready to help. We wish you the best of your health and a great World Spine Day.
