Three Sneaky Daily Habits That Increase Your Need For Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is a no-brainer for spine and joint pains. Yet, if you are seeing a chiropractor and are not seeing results, your daily habits may be to blame. Here are three sneaky daily habits that undo your chiropractor's progress and perpetuate the pain that you feel.
Your Footwear
Your feet are amazing. Over a quarter of the bones in your body can be found in your feet, and over one hundred individual muscles allow your dogs to sustain tons--literally tons--of pressure.
Needless to say, the rest of your body will suffer if you do not take proper care of your feet. One of the biggest ways that you abuse your feet is through your footwear choices.
- Flip Flops: Flip flops are fun and liberating, but they sure do not like your health. Flip flops interfere with your natural gait, and as a result, the rest of your body suffers. The effect of your changed gain is particularly apparent in your hips, knees, and back.
- High Heels: The high heel is another offender. Like flip flops, high heels change the way that you walk. If your high heels also have pointed toes, your gait is even more affected because of the pain that these shoes inflict on the nerves of your feet and toes.
Over time, wearing flip flops and high heels can lead to chronic back pain, misalignment, and overall soreness. Your chiropractor can help erase the damage caused by these shoes, but unless you change your footwear habits, your back and joint problems will return.
How You Sleep
When you slip under the covers, you probably think that a good night's sleep will help soothe your aching joints and muscles. As a matter of fact, you could be causing yourself even more pain if you are sleeping the wrong way.
If you sleep in the fetal position or on your stomach, you are sleeping "wrong." When you sleep in the fetal position, your back is curved and your joints are crumpled. This increases arthritic pain and does a number on your spine, your hips, and your neck. If you sleep on your stomach, your body weight puts pressure on your joints. Your neck is also at an awkward angle, and your spine's natural curve is compromised.
Most sleep experts agree that resting on your back is the best way to sleep. You can improve your back and joint pain even more by placing a pillow underneath your knees.
Your Posture
If you have bad posture, your self image, self confidence, and concentration all suffer. Bad posture can also send you crawling to your chiropractor.
If you have bad posture, you place unnecessary stress on your back and increase your risk of suffering from a slipped disc. Slouching and leaning back too far both alter your spine's natural curve. Over time, the strain that you place on your back can actually change its anatomical structure!
If you consciously practice good posture, your spine and neck will be properly aligned and, as a result, you will experience fewer aches.