As we age, our bodies go through a lot of change. Many of the things that we used to do aren’t as easy and require more work. Our changing body is inevitable as we go years using our spine, neck, muscles, and joints, causing them to wear and tear.
Over time, your spine’s structure begins to break down, and your bones will start to lose strength and mass due to lifestyle, previous injuries, or osteoporosis. A narrowing in your spine may occur as your bones change, which may lead to a condition commonly known as spinal stenosis.
In today’s article, we’ll look over some of the common signs that your back is aging and some treatments to help slow down the process.
Signs of an aging back
We’re tasked to do many things in our lives, such as lifting heavy objects, bending over to pick something up, or sitting at a desk all day. At the moment, these movements seem normal, and you wouldn’t think that they would have a significant impact on your body. Still, truth be told, if you ignore the proper movements and care for your body, you will start to experience discomfort and even pain.
This added stress and pressure to your discs will cause them to begin to degenerate and, if not cared for properly, will lead to issues down the road. If the spine joints are under a lot of stress, the spine may develop premature Osteoarthritis. If your muscles are stressed, they may develop scar tissue and slowly become less flexible.
Other common causes of age-related back pain include:
- Arthritis
- Sciatica
- Fractures
- Nerve compression
Ways to care for your back
Caring for your body as you age is a great way to ensure that you experience minimal discomfort and pain over the years. This will allow you to maintain many of your favorite activities like playing sports, spending time with your family, and doing more body-intensive activities.
Get up and exercise
When most people think of exercise, they assume that you have to go to the gym and lift 150 pounds to stay fit. However, this would be a tremendous bodily goal to achieve. Simply going for a 10-minute walk and stretching every day can have enormous benefits to your body and overall health.
Be mindful of movements
As we mentioned before, applying too much pressure while lifting items or twisting can negatively affect your body. So, to prevent this, assure that you take the extra time and precaution when performing these tasks. When picking up objects, always lift with your legs, or hinge at your hips, and don’t twist your body while holding a heavy item.
Eat healthily
The key to living and maintaining a healthy life is to be mindful of what you’re putting into your body. Assuring that you’re nourishing your body with suitable proteins, fats, and nutrients is essential to not only staying healthy but feeling healthy too.
Regular chiropractic care
At ProActive Health, we take the needed time to ensure that you are living and experiencing your best life. With over 20 years of experience, we approach our work with care and knowledge to ensure that you receive the best care for your needs.
Visit us at ProActive Health today to “Align Your Spine, Realign Your Life!”
Ready to see a chiropractor, whether for the first time or as someone looking to visit a new chiropractic office? Dr. Doug Patterson at ProActive Health is the top choice in the Michiana area!
In 1993, Dr. Doug Patterson hurt his back and first sought the care of a Chiropractor. After this experience, he decided he wanted to help people himself by pursuing chiropractic. He is a 1997 graduate of the Life University College of Chiropractic in Marietta, Georgia, and has been in practice for 20+ years. Since then, Dr. Doug has expanded his field of practice to include functional medicine and science-based nutrition. Schedule a visit with Dr. Doug at ProActive Health today!
