When you suffer from aches and pains, stretching can either be painful until you get used to it, or it can make a major difference in how you feel. If you stretch every day, you’re on the right track. You want to keep your muscles in use, which keeps your body safe from injury. However, you want to make sure that you are doing the correct kind of stretches. You also want to make sure that you are moving and getting enough exercise on a daily basis.
To manage your back pain on a daily basis, strive to walk daily, especially if you are unable to perform a full exercise routine. This helps to improve your circulation, and it also relaxes the body. Stretch on a daily basis and do about eight to ten reps of each stretch daily, but only hold each stretch for two seconds at a time.
There are a couple of stretches that you can perform on a daily basis to prevent back pain. Start by sitting on the edge of your chair with your back straight. Tuck in your chin and contract your abdominal muscles. Lean forward until your head is as far below your knees as you can go, and then hold the sides of your legs with your hands. Pull forward to continue the stretch. Hold for several seconds, release, and repeat.
If this or any stretch hurts, speak with a medical professional before trying again, or schedule an appointment with a licensed chiropractor at Premier Health Chiropractors. There are stretches for each and every body type, so don’t fret if one of our suggestions doesn’t work out for you.
Next, stretch your arms out in front of you and rotate your hands until your palms face away from each other. Bend over at the upper back like you are diving off the diving board, and tuck in your chin at the same time. This is an excellent stretch for the upper back.
You probably didn’t realize that simply shrugging your shoulders could actually be good for you or that it is considered a stretch, but it’s true! Shrug your shoulders to your ears and hold tightly for two seconds, but while you are holding, shrug your shoulders back. Repeat eight to ten times.
A shoulder blade squeeze is another excellent stretch for back pain. Start by standing up straight with your arms at your sides. Next, slide your shoulder blades down your back and squeeze or pinch them together. This will provide a stretch through your chest and will help to strengthen the muscles between your shoulder blades. Hold for five seconds and repeat eight to ten times.
Stretching is a way of keeping the body safe from injury, but it can also help you to prevent or even treat aches and pains on a daily basis. However, additional help is needed at times, so do not hesitate to contact a member of our staff at Premier Health Chiropractors to schedule an appointment at a time that is convenient for you.