Last week I discussed the importance of health goals and gave some tips on weight loss. Today I will dive into another crucial aspect of your health which can cause dangerous complications if overlooked.
EXERCISE & MOVEMENT
Exercise is a modern invention, since we are not generally as active as our ancestors were. They moved a lot as part of their everyday lives and this kept their bodies “in shape” so they could keep doing all they needed to. Life was their exercise. Unfortunately, nowadays we do a good deal of sitting – often at a desk or in a car. Non-desk jobs may still require us to be relatively still and even some of our entertainment and hobbies can prevent us from moving as much as our bodies need.
This leads to some of the common problems I treat in my chiropractic clinic: forward head and shoulders, reduced cervical lordosis (spinal curve in your neck area), headaches, numbness or tingling in the arms and hands, mid and low back pain, and sciatica. We work to restore proper movement to these areas and reduce your symptoms by correcting the cause of the problem.
Katy Bowman, a biomechanist with some great ideas on movement, has described how each movement you make is really a form of “nutrition” for the body. Just like the food you eat, it is important to get a rich diet of different movements so no part of your body is neglected. She emphasizes that certain movements and exercises are better sources of nutrition than others. Learn more from her website at www. nutritiousmovement.com.
As a chiropractor I have seen that doing too much of the same thing can overuse the same joints and muscles and leave out other important areas of your body. There are many ways to keep yourself moving and active, but make sure you keep it diverse. Try not to do just one movement over and over. Get creative and think of new, fun ways to keep yourself moving!
There are countless reasons to keep moving. It improves digestion, supports your heart and fuels your brain, prevents weight gain, boosts your positive emotions, and even helps your blood flow. Now those are some good side effects for simply being up and moving! Join us again next week for the final post of my chiropractic views on good health goals: athletics and strength training.