3 ERGONOMIC TIPS FROM A ST. PETER CHIROPRACTOR

Since chiropractors see the results of poor lifestyle choices on a daily basis, it’s only natural to formulate opinions and offer tips to patients so they can help themselves. From sore backs, necks, shoulders, irregular sleeping patterns to back pain, we provide help in a wide range of areas. Here are 3 tips from your St. Peter Chiropractor, Dr. Seth Nelson at Rising Sun Chiropractic, that will help keep your body operating efficiently.

1) Try Not to Sit so Much

We all do it, it’s no big deal…right? Stress on your body from sitting can be as low impact as it gets but chronic back pain, disc injuries, headaches and neck pain can all be made worse by poor posture.  Finding yourself in a soft chair or couch while reading this, head leaned forward on the phone?  You may be causing the pain you are fighting against every day.  Did you know that sitting for longer than 40 minutes actually slows down your metabolism, reduces blood flow and can actually reduce your testosterone?  Take breaks get up and gently move about every 30-35 minutes.  Just a couple simple stretches like Dr. Seth from Rising Sun Chiropractic, shows here work great!  You can take phone calls standing up, buy an adjustable standing desk, do deep knee bends, jumping jacks or just go for a quick walk. The key is to stand up and move around to relieve pressure and stay healthy.

2) Get Injuries Treated Promptly

Another important tip from Dr. Seth at Rising Sun Chiropractic is to get quick treatment if you’ve suffered an injury. A little twist or tweak now can lead to years of discomfort and improper muscle function if you just leave it alone. It’s always wise to apply ice to injuries to help reduce swelling, but visiting a chiropractor as soon as possible will help with the healing process and keep your muscles and joints functioning at full capacity.

Leaving minor injuries may not cause a great deal of pain, but the effects will be felt in the future. Many people end up using various pain medications or having reduced mobility as they get older because they chose to leave an injury alone.

3) Incorporate Stretching Into Your Day

Treating injuries promptly is a good idea, but preventing them altogether is even better. Keeping your muscles, tendons, and ligaments flexible with daily stretching will help you avoid many common injuries. You can incorporate the stretches into your morning routine or as part of your daily workout regimen. As you age, those muscles will become tighter and tighter leaving you prone to injury. Working for long hours hunched over a desk also shortens muscles and opens the door to injury. Stretching tips from Rising Sun Chiropractic and Dr. Seth include your hamstrings, quadriceps, calves, chest, hips, and back. Dr. Seth has put together a variety of options that you can find here. It only takes a few minutes a day, but you’ll notice the results for the rest of your life.

If you have any further questions don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Seth Nelson at your St. Peter chiropractic office, Rising Sun Chiropractic.