Happy Spine Health Day!
October 16th is Spine Health Day and in honor of such an important day here at Texas Back Institute here are 5 tips for maintaining a healthy spine (in no particular order) from Dr. Rey Bosita.
1. Maintain a healthy body weight.
Being overweight, especially belly fat, can put additional stress on your muscles, ligaments and tendons in your lower back.
2. Quit smoking.
Smoking can increase the risk of many life threatening illnesses. Smoking can impair blood flow to many parts of the body including the back which in turn slows down the healing process.
3. Work on your core.
Core muscles help support the low back and pelvis. Strengthening these muscles will help increase your spinal stability as well as reduce your risk of injury.
4. Get enough sleep.
Sleep is essential to your overall health but it also plays an important role in maintaining a healthy spine.
5. Pay attention to any warning signs.
It is important to listen to your body. It can be common to experience back pain once in a while, however, sometimes it can be an indication of a more serious problem. Consult with your physician to determine what is causing your pain. The best time to act is before a problem starts when there is no pain.
What are some of the things you do to maintain a healthy spine?