Be Good To Your Back: Three Tips For Mature Adults
Your core ability to walk, stretch, and use your arms lies in your back. Without a healthy back, you'll have trouble completing even the simplest life tasks without pain. As an older adult, back and core strength can begin to decline. So, start taking better care of your back by following these tips.
Invest in a good mattress.
You spend about a third of your time sleeping, so it only makes sense to buy a good quality, supportive mattress. Look for one that's semi-firm as this will offer plenty of back support without feeling too stiff. Lie on a few mattresses -- make sure you lie in the position you usually sleep in at night. Take home the one you find the most comfortable rather than the one you find most attractive or the one the salesperson recommends. Try to purchase from a shop that has a good return policy so that if you experience back pain after sleeping on the mattress for a few days, you can exchange it for a better one.
See the chiropractor.
Don't wait until you actually have back pain to see the chiropractor. Start going now as a preventative measure. Your chiropractor will keep your spine in proper alignment so that when you do use your back, you're not putting extra strain on any of the muscles, tendons, or ligaments. Chiropractic adjustments are not painful and they only take a few minutes. Your chiropractor will just use his or her hands to gently move any misaligned vertebrae into place.
Your chiropractor will tell you how often to return for preventative treatments, but for most patients without any overt back issues, visiting once a month is sufficient.
Do back exercises.
If the muscles in your back and core are strong, you won't risk overworking them when you do lift things, walk a long distance, or otherwise put your back to use. So once or twice a week, try to incorporate some back exercises into your routine. This can be something simple like using the lat pulldown machine or rowing for 15 minutes. You can also search for back-specific workouts on a site like YouTube and follow along. Many don't require gym equipment, so you can do them in your own home.
If you do start experiencing any type of back pain or soreness, reach out to your chiropractor sooner rather than later. Usually, if you get to the bottom of the issue promptly, you can stop it in its tracks before you end up with a more serious issue like a herniated disc or tendonitis. For more information, contact a business such as Centerpointe Chiropractic - Lou Rossi DC.
Share