It’s time to start enjoying the beautiful Colorado weather (finally!). We’re sure that you’re ready to seize this opportunity, pack some water bottles and granola bars, and head up to Horsetooth for a rejuvenating hike. We know that folks here in Fort Collins take the outdoor lifestyle seriously. As soon as the clouds clear away and the temperatures warm up a few degrees, those biking trails and river banks fill up quick. The professionals here at Revelation Chiropractic want to ensure that these summer months are full of all that quality Colorado fun. As your trusted Fort Collins chiropractor, however, we also want to emphasize the importance of safety when doing all these awesome activities.
One of the fastest ways to an avoidable injury is through our backs. The human back can be very susceptible to injury. While chiropractors offer far more than just help with back pain (as we’ve explored in this blog post), help with back injuries and general back health is one of the primary reasons why people visit the chiropractor. Accordingly, Revelation Chiropractor wanted to take some time to look at some ways to keep your back healthy and flexible during the summer months. We recently looked at some general ways to stay healthy during the summer months, but now we will be turning to the back specifically.
1. Stay Active
This should come as no surprise. Sedentary lifestyles can be extremely rough on our backs. Getting regular exercise goes a long way in keeping our backs (and our bodies on the whole!) fit and healthy.
Not surprisingly, as important as it is to stay active and get regular exercise (it’s usually recommended to get at least 30 minutes of intensive activity each day), it’s just important to choose the right kinds of exercises and to do them in the right kinds of ways! Exercise is great for keeping you limber and flexible and for keeping your muscles strong, but doing the wrong kinds of exercises (or doing them in the wrong kinds of ways) can actually increase the odds of injuring your back. It’s best to customize your exercise regimen to your specific needs and lifestyle. The expert Fort Collins chiropractors at Revelation Chiropractic can help you figure out what’s best for you.
2. Break Away From The Sedentary Lifestyle
It’s great to stay active, of course. But not everyone is able to fit in long stretches of vigorous activity each day of the week. On top of that, many of us work in jobs that keep us stuck at a desk for hours on end. It is imperative to take breaks throughout the day and keep your body moving.
Even if it’s not vigorous exercise, it can still make a huge difference for the health of your back if you take a break, stand up, and move around at least once every hour. Standing desks can go a long way in breaking up the sedentary monotony of the day, but it’s usually not enough. If you are able to, step away from the desk and move your legs by going on a quick walk. Be sure to do this several times each day, even if it’s something as simple as pacing around your desk or office a handful of times.
3. Create Healthy Habits
The first two tips involve incorporating activity into your daily routine. But there are healthy things you can do that can make those long sedentary stretches a bit better for you. This can include, for instance, being mindful of your posture. Hunching over your keyboard while you’re working can weaken the muscles around your shoulders and chest, all of which increase the odds of back injury.
There are many other types of daily habits that you can incorporate to help keep your back healthy. These include healthy posture when bending over, being mindful of your body while picking things up, and ensuring that you have a comfortable and back-healthy chair.
4. Schedule An Appointment With Your Fort Collins Chiropractor
Everything we’ve talked about so far involves habits that you can (and should!) incorporate into your daily life. As great as it would be, it’s not realistic for most of us to visit a chiropractor on the daily. Nevertheless, routine visits to your chiropractor can make a huge difference on the overall health of your back. And, again, it’s not just your back. Routine visits to the chiropractor can help with a whole host of issues, all in the service of keeping your body and mind healthy and fit. Routine visits with a chiropractor can help with, among other things:
– Allergies
– Asthma
– Neck Pain
– Headaches
– Eyesight Issues
– Fatigue
– Cramping
– Herniated Discs
– High Blood Pressure
– Vertigo
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! If you are interested in learning about all of the potential benefits of regular chiropractor visits, then be sure to check out our We Can Help page. And, of course, the benefits don’t stop there: check out the benefits offered by regular massage therapy as well.
Ultimately, chiropractors can assist in a huge variety of maladies, but it’s essential to incorporate appointments alongside general healthy habits. As the weather continues to be beautiful and the opportunity for Colorado adventures become more and more frequent, be sure to stay safe and healthy by following these tips. And contact Revelation Chiropractic in Fort Collins to help ensure that this will be a summer that you will never forget!
