How To Have a Healthy Back

To understand the importance of taking care of your back, here is a brief overview of the spine and spinal cord:  The human spine is one of the most important parts of your body, giving your body structure and support.  Without the spine you could not stand up or keep yourself upright.  The spine allows you to move about freely and bend with flexibility as well as protecting your spinal cord.  The collection of nerves that connect your brain to the rest of your body is the spinal cord which allows you to control movements.  Having no spinal cord would result in you not being able to move any part of your body and your organs could not function properly.  Let’s build upon this information and take it one more step.  Your spine is made up of 24 bones with many ligaments and muscles connecting these bones together to form the spinal column.  The spinal column holds and protects the spinal cord.  Muscles that connect to the spine help support the upright posture of the spine and move the spine.

With this knowledge, we can draw the following conclusions:

To keep the back healthy, you need proper alignment, proper movement and proper nutrition.
It is critical to strengthen those muscles that support the spine.
Pain is not normal.
Keeping your spine healthy is vital if you want to live an active life.
Sustaining a healthy back is your responsibility.  At Thatcher Chiropractic we can provide feedback and exercises for you to do to strengthen the muscles.

James Thatcher, Doctor of Chiropractic in Colorado Springs, Colorado, believes that part of your ongoing care must include preventative measures for maintaining a healthy back.  The North America Spine Society suggests the following:

1. Standing: keeping one foot forward of the other, with knees slightly bent, takes the pressure off your low back.

2. Sitting: sitting with your knees slightly higher than your hips provides good low back support.

3. Reaching: stand on a stool to reach things that are above your shoulder level.

4. Moving Heavy Items: pushing is easier on your back than pulling. Use your arms and legs to start the push. If you must lift a heavy item, get someone to help you.

5. Lifting: kneel down on one knee with the other foot flat on the floor as near as possible to the item you are lifting. Lift with your legs, not your back, keeping the object close to your body at all times.

6. Carrying: two small objects (one in either hand) may be easier to handle than one large one. If you must carry one large object, keep it close to your body.

7. Sleeping: sleeping on your back puts 55 lbs. of pressure on your back. Putting a couple of pillows under your knees cuts the pressure in half. Lying on your side with a pillow between your knees also reduces the pressure.

8. Weight Control: additional weight puts a strain on your back. Keep within 10 lbs. of your ideal weight for a healthier back.

9. Quit Smoking: smokers are more prone to back pain than nonsmokers because nicotine restricts the flow of blood to the discs that cushion your vertebrae.

10. Minor Back Pain: treat minor back pain with anti-inflammatories and gentle stretching, followed by an ice pack.

At Thatcher Chiropractic we look forward to helping you gain and maintain a healthy back! 
Thatcher Chiropractic is located at 3535 American Drive near the intersection at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs, Colorado 80917.  For more information you can visit our website at thatcherchiropractic.com.  If you have additional questions or if you wish to schedule an appointment, please contact us by phone.  You can reach us at (719) 574-3700. 

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