Your spinal cord relays thousands of messages a second and it is your backbone and muscles, which protect this delicate and very important human ‘super highway’.
The two key areas are awareness and prevention.
1. Awareness
- As you collect your shopping and push your trolley around look out for potential problems.
- Change direction slowly with your trolley.
- Ask for assistance if reaching above your height for shelf items.
- Look out for ‘slippery when wet’ signs – people still fall.
- When standing still, rest one foot on the bottom of your trolley – it flattens and rests your back. Change legs frequently.
- When loading your car tighten your stomach muscles, lift with two hands and avoid twisting as you lift.
2. Prevention
Development of your full potential.
As we sit for up to 80% of our waking day – work, travel, entertainment and meals – our stomach muscles get very little usage.
Traditionally we strengthen our stomach muscles (abdominals) by sit-ups and crunches.
Today new exercises have been developed that are more specific and more effective.
Should you have ongoing or recurrent problems with back pain these exercises are essential.
Talk to your physiotherapist about an appropriate abdominal stabilising program.
A regular exercise program is also very beneficial.
This may be walking, running, cycling or swimming.
Aiming for 30-40 minutes 3 times a week is proving to be the best ‘prescription’ for heart disease, osteoporosis, general arthritis and for many medical problems.
Ask your physiotherapist how to get started.
For more information see your local Lifecare practitioner. Click here to find your closest Lifecare clinic.