Help Your Chiropractor By Taking These Steps Between Your Adjustments

When you're experiencing discomfort in your back or neck, calling your local chiropractic clinic for an assessment can be the first step toward recovery. Through an initial adjustment and follow-up treatments over the course of several weeks, your chiropractor can restore the proper alignment of your spine and eliminate your pain. It's important for you to take a proactive interest in the healing process, as doing so can help you reach a pain-free state more quickly. While your chiropractor will suggest some steps that you can take between adjustments, here are three general ideas that are beneficial.

Make Light Exercise A Priority

Exercise is important for people with back and neck pain for a variety of reasons. Something as simple as walking, which many chiropractic patients can perform without worsening their discomfort, will help to strengthen your postural muscles while also pumping nutrients through your blood into the areas that are painful, which helps to provide relief. Walking is also an effective way to improve your flexibility, which is ideal if your sore back or neck has you feeling stiff and suffering from limited range of motion. Alternatives to walking include swimming, water aerobics and yoga.

Be Mindful Of Using Proper Posture

Slouching while you're seated or standing can quickly negate the work done by your chiropractor and put your back or neck into an unhealthy position. Between chiropractic adjustments, it's important to be mindful of your posture. While seated at work, keep your feet on the floor, hold your back upright and avoid slouching forward toward your computer screen. If you have trouble maintaining this posture over prolonged periods, get up and move at regular intervals. While you're standing, aim to hold yourself in an upright position and keep your weight distributed evenly between your feet. If you lean to one side, it can put pressure on your back and cause pain.

Steer Clear Of Stressful Situations

While you might not be able to avoid all forms of stress in your life, doing your best to avoid or manage these situations can help your pain from worsening. Stress can quickly turn into physical pain; when you're stressed, you will often tighten your muscles without knowing it, which can lead to discomfort. Take a proactive approach to managing your stress by thinking about what situations cause you this anxiety, and then managing them. For example, if you hate sitting in traffic during your commute, consider making the change to public transportation.

For more information, contact Gehrig Family Chiropractic Center or a similar location.

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