Your Chiropractor can help you correct your back problems but you are responsible for maintaining your back health.  It is important that the two of you work together to achieve your long term goals.  To that end, Dr. John Bellomo recommends these five simple steps to improving your back health.

1. Check your sleeping habits – Use a chiropractic pillow that will maintain the proper curve in your neck.  Also, avoid sleeping on your stomach.  You can’t help but to keep your neck twisted in that position.  In addition, if you are sleeping on your side, don’t curl up tight into a fetal position.  Doing so reverses your natural spinal curves and over time causes problems.
2. Do not put your purse strap on your shoulder.  It adds a disproportionate amount of weight to one shoulder pulling your spine out of alignment.    In addition, do not put a wallet in your hip pocket.  Sitting on it causes a tilt in your pelvis.  Doing it day in and day out is like putting your spine into the wrong traction and is begging for trouble.
3. Lose weight – shedding one pound of fat can release ten pounds of stress off your lower back.  The easiest way to start losing is to avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup and sugar substitutes.  They don’t metabolize well and increase your cravings.  At Bellomo Chiropractic, we recommend eating organic food as close to how nature made it as possible and drinking half your body weight in ounces of pure water every day.  Many people complain that they don’t like water but adding a slice of lemon or lime can make it easier to swallow.
4. Exercise – Take time to walk.  It lowers stress and increases your circulation.  If you add stretching exercises like yoga, you improve your spine strength and flexibility.  Even if you have damaged your spine, there are gentle exercises that are good for you to do.  The next time you come to the office, be sure to ask what exercise is recommended for you.
5. Quit Smoking – We all know smoking is bad for us but did you ever think about how it affects your back health?  When you quit smoking it increases the life giving blood supply to your spinal disks.

There you have it, five steps to improving your back health.  These are simple things that anyone can do to work with their chiropractor while achieving their health goals.  It’s easy if you take them one at a time and allow them to become part of your daily routine.  Your back will be glad you did!

We all know about the falls and bumped heads toddlers experience as they learn to walk, run and play.  Most of these cause little damage as his joints are still very soft and flexible.  Unfortunately, some of them cause misalignments in his spinal column putting pressure on his delicate nervous system.  You may not realize it but it can manifest as such things as sleeplessness, bed wetting, asthma, ear aches, problems nursing or even an irritable, fussy child.  If your child is experiencing such things, you owe it to him to see a Pediatric Chiropractor.  Many parents are amazed at the results a gentle manipulation can yield and your child will be healthier and happier.

Posted via email from drjohnbellomo’s posterous