It’s that time of year where everyone makes resolutions to kick off the New Year! We commend those with discipline and drive to achieve their resolutions year after year! For those of us who have a hard time reaching the finish line, we thought we’d offer some resolutions that aren’t a pain in the back (literally)!

These SMALL changes could have a BIG impact on minimizing your back and neck pain!

  1. WALK MORE
    Walking is one of the most underrated forms of exercise there is. No fancy gym equipment needed. Even walking 10 minutes a day reduces inflammation, gets your heart rate up, strengthens your muscles, gets blood moving, and allows oxygen to reach areas where you may have back pain.
  2. LOOK UP FROM YOUR PHONE
    While it may be convenient, phones are damaging our necksLook up from your smartphone more often. Call someone instead of texting, limit the time you spend on your phone scrolling through newsfeeds. You’ll reduce your neck pain and enjoy your surroundings more.
  3. STANDING GOALS
    If you have an Apple© watch, you’re familiar with stand goals. If you don’t? No fancy tech needed! Every hour, stand for at least 1 minute. Sounds simple right? This gets your blood flowing, stretches your muscles, and gives you a boost of energy!
  4. INVEST IN POSTURE
    It doesn’t matter if you sit or stand all day, your posture plays a huge role in minimizing back or neck pain. Purchase essentials to help you stabilize your posture.  There are a wide variety of options fit for any budget to help you achieve proper posture. From chairs to laptop mounts, standing desks, and more, find an option that’s suitable for you.
  5. PLANK EVERY DAY
    Increasing your core strength is one of the best ways to have a healthy spine! Start planking every day.  It doesn’t matter if you start with 10 seconds or 2 minutes. Every few days raise your time by 5 seconds. This simple exercise will increase your core strength, get your blood flowing, and build muscles that will protect your spinal column.
  6. MORE CALCIUM, MORE TURMERIC
    While losing those extra pounds can have big benefits on your spine health, there are other simple steps you can take. Increase the calcium and turmeric in your diet.  Calcium is great to build muscle strength, which will help core muscles stabilize your spinal column. Turmeric can reduce inflammation and pain in stiff joints.
  7. SEEK TREATMENT
    Have you been suffering from consistent back and neck pain? It’s time to get a handle on your spine health.  Call the TOP DOCS at First State Spine to schedule an appointment

Always check with your physician to see if these tips are safe to follow based on your health history.