There are a lot of great ways to care for your spine. You can exercise and participate in some type of strength training program, you can eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of fluids, and you can head to a spine specialist at the first sign of a back issue. Another easy way to take care of your spine is to stretch on a regular basis. In today’s blog, we explain why stretching is a simple way to help keep your spine healthy.
Stretch Your Way To Optimal Spine Health
You might think that only athletes need to stretch before a big game, but stretching is beneficial for anyone going through normal daily activities. But why is taking a few minutes to stretch your spine so important? When you stretch, you’re doing three things for the muscles in your spine. You’re keeping them flexible, you’re helping them remain strong and you’re keeping them healthy. We explore each of those factors more in depth below.
- Spinal strength – Stretching helps to keep spinal muscle groups active. If these muscles stay dormant for too long, they’ll begin to become weak. You may not notice this weakness during periods of inactivity, but if you need to lift a heavy object or jump into sporting activities, your spinal muscles may not be up to the task. Stretching helps keep muscle groups strong so they are ready when they are called on.
- Spinal flexibility – Similarly, if spinal muscles remain in one state for too long, or if you’re seated at a desk for long hours and the same muscle groups are being stressed day in and day out, muscles can become tight. Tight muscles don’t move as fluidly as loose muscles, and stretching helps to keep our muscle groups loose. This helps when we perform simple daily tasks like bending, lifting or twisting without pain.
- Spinal Health – Daily spinal stretching also helps to keep your spinal muscles healthy. Similar to how one run isn’t going to result in losing 10 pounds, stretching once or twice a week isn’t going to do much for your spinal health. However, if you stretch your spine on a more regular basis, you’re going to ensure that the strength and flexibility you’re working towards is here to stay. Stretching is also an activity that helps to increase your heart rate and push healthy blood to key structures in your body, including your spine.
So if you’re not already doing a spinal stretching routine, consider carving out 3-5 minutes a day to loosen up and strengthen your spinal muscles. You can choose whatever spinal stretches you like, and there are no shortage of great options when you google “spinal stretches,” just make sure that you hold the stretch for 20-30 seconds in a consistent hold and avoid bouncing or swaying while you stretch. You want to feel some light to moderate tension while you’re stretching, but you shouldn’t be feeling any pain. If something feels painful, shut it down and try some lighter stretches the next day. If things continue to feel painful, reach out to a spine specialist in your area. For more information, or for help with your spinal condition, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi’s office today.
