Chiropractors are in a unique position to notice the cumulative effects of poor lifestyle choices. Year after year, the more we practice, the more trends we notice. Back pain, shoulder discomfort, neck soreness, headaches, and reduced sleep quality — we provide help to patients suffering from a variety of different ailments. And with a large enough sample size, it’s natural to identify common themes amongst patients who suffer from these types of problems.

So here are 3 tips from the St Louis chiropractor who can assist you in keeping your body operating in a youthful and efficient way.

1) SIT LESS; MOVE MORE

Sitting. It’s easy. It’s comfortable. It just seems like a natural thing to do. But I have to tell you, the effects of prolonged sitting will make you feel miserable. Orthopedic researchers discovered a long time ago that sitting a lot leads to back pain and other spinal issues. Would you be surprised, however, if I told you that it’s also associated with heart disease?

If you work day after day in a sedentary position, make sure you get up and move around every 45-60 minutes. Stand during your phone calls if you have to, but give yourself a few minutes each hour to go for a walk, bend your knees, do some pushups, or even jumping jacks. Get out of that position for a bit! The key is to relieve pressure on your joints, so stand up and move to stay healthy.

Consider implementing a standing desk, or setting a timer that reminds you to break the monotony of sitting.

2) GET TREATMENT IMMEDIATELY AFTER INJURY

Another important tip from this St Louis chiropractor is to promptly seek treatment if you’ve injured yourself. A fall, strain, twist, or tweak today can become years of discomfort if you ignore it and think it’ll just go away. Visiting a chiropractor right after you’ve experienced the injury can help with the healing process!

Minor injuries might not cause you significant pain, but the effects of the injury could eventually be felt in the future. Month after month, I see patients with reduced mobility using pain medication as they get older because they neglected to treat an injury from the past. Don’t let this happen to you if you can avoid it.

3) FLEXIBILITY IS YOUR FRIEND, SO MAKE TIME TO STRETCH

Treating injuries quickly is good, but preventing them from happening in the first place is best. Daily stretching can help you avoid repetitive overuse injuries, so make sure your muscles, ligament, and tendons stay flexible.

Try incorporating stretches into your morning routine, or add them to your workout. As you age, your muscles can become significantly tighter, leaving you prone to injury. Slaving away at your desk for hours each day invites injury as well.

This St Louis chiropractor encourages you to stretch your hamstrings, quads, calves, hips, back, and chest. It only takes a few short minutes per day, but you’ll appreciate the results for the rest of your life.

Questions? Contact Dr. Adam Tanase at Chiropractic Saint Louis today.