Staying Safe with Ms. Nicole | Back Health & Safety

Studies have shown that your spine changes as you age. Once an individual hits their early twenties they stop growing and every twenty years afterwards they lose a 1/2″ of height. Osteoporosis becomes a risk as you age. Women have a greater risk of osteoporosis because they have less bone mass then men. Getting older is inevitable,however, how healthy you are at 80 is completely up to you.

Major Causes for Bad Back Health

Back health is important for everyone. Posture, Weight, and Gravity are just three things that can effect your spine. Bad posture can cause misalignment. Misalignment can then cause nerve pain and can compromise the integrity of the spinal column. Weight has a major impact on your spine. For every four pounds an individual gains, especially around the midsection, sixteen pounds of pressure is added to their spine. This occurs because the extra weight pushes your pelvis forward. Lastly, gravity effects the spine constantly. Gravity is a downward force that compresses the vertebrae in the spine. The vertebrae are discs full of moisture that compress daily. These compressions are what allow you to walk, bend, and turn your body. When an individual constantly bends to pick up heavy items they are weakening their vertebrae. Weak vertebrae is the start of declining back health.

Prevention

The health of your back can be spared by changing a few habits. Listed below are simple day to day adjustments that can help your back health tremendously:

–Always lift with your legs, never your back.

–Do not lift an object and twist. Doing this can cause a disc to rupture or crack.

–Stay in shape. Exercise at least thirty minutes a day and eat healthy.

–Drink plenty of water. Water is the moisture in your vertebrae that cushions your spinal compressions.

–Stretch out your body. Stretching allows your spinal column to extend out to normal length relieving pressure.

–Always sit up straight. Correct posture relieves pressure and keeps your spine aligned.

Written By: Teresa Reeves