healingways
HAPPY BACK
HAPPY BODY
Five Ways to a Healthy Spine
by dr. Peter F. Ullrich, Jr.
The spine’s many nerves, muscles and ligaments serve
as connections to areas throughout the body, so keeping
your spine in top condition is one of the best things you
can do for both your back and overall health.
Let the spine really
improve flexibility and decrease ten- you get up to stretch and walk around
rest while sleeping.
sion. Massage chairs also can improve every 20 to 30 minutes.
blood flow and increase the level of
While you’re sleeping, the structures in
endorphins, natural chemicals in the
your spinal column that have worked
Specifically exercise
body that make you feel good, in your
hard all day finally have an opportu-
abs and back.
bloodstream. While it’s not the same
nity to relax and rejuvenate. Using the
as experiencing treatment by a mas-
One of the most important components
right mattress and pillow will support
sage therapist, using a massage chair at
of good spine health is exercise. If back
the spine, allowing the muscles and
home can be a practical, easy way to
and abdominal muscles are not in good
ligaments to become stress-free and
feel some of the benefits of a Shiatsu or
shape, it puts additional pressure on
refreshed.
Swedish massage.
the spine, already under the stress of
supporting the entire body. Performing
Choose your abdominal and back exercises (which
shoes carefully.
Sit up straight,
don’t get much exercise from daily
with support.
Whether walking for exercise or just
activities) as part of a daily routine will
Loading on the discs in the lower spine
to get where you’re going, the shoes
go far in maintaining a healthy spine.
is three times greater while sitting than
on your feet have a big effect on your
When abdominal and back muscles are
standing, so it follows that long peri-
back. Shoes should be well-balanced,
well-maintained, they help support the
ods of sitting can create or aggravate a
flexible and comfortable. Providing
spine and minimize the chance
painful back condition. Problems can
not only protection for the feet, but a
of injury.
also occur from sitting incorrectly or in
supportive base that helps the spine
an uncomfortable chair. For example,
and body remain in alignment, the right Dr. Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., is a practic-
while sitting in an office chair, many
shoes, plus inserts for added balance, ing physician and the co-founder
people slouch and lean forward; this
if needed, can help avoid muscle strain and medical director of Spine-Health
poor posture typically leads to muscle
and possible injury. (Spine-Health.com), a leading educa-
tension and pain in the lower back and
tional online resource for people with
Enjoy the benefits
legs. That is why having the right office
neck and back pain.
chair is key to promoting good pos-
of a massage chair.
ture and supporting the back’s natural
A massage feels good because it relaxes curves. Because a prolonged static
Source: © 1999-2009 Spine-Health.
your muscles and relieves stress, but posture is stressful for the structures in
com, all rights reserved. Always seek
therapeutic massage does more than the spine, most experts recommend that
the advice of your physician.
Collier / Lee Counties
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64