Chiropractic adjustments restore balance to your nervous system and improve the structural integrity of your spine and joints. One major key to healing is consistency in the rhythm of your adjustments. Just like going to gym on a regular basis to build muscle strength and cardiovascular stamina, following your recommended adjustment schedule leads to corrective gains. But there are other things you can do to help support your body’s ability to heal itself and hold your adjustments. Here are the top 3 easy things you can do right NOW.
- Start a daily stretching routine. It doesn’t need to be elaborate or time consuming. Just commit to taking all of your joints through a full range of motion and stretching major muscle groups each morning. Basic leg, glut, spine and arm stretches will do. If you don’t know where to start, ask us for a stretching handout, check YouTube or sign up for Dr. John’s stretching workshop which runs regularly in our Pembroke location.
- Drink more water. The vast majority of us aren’t staying well hydrated, and this affects EVERYTHING in your body. It’s simple. Set a goal to drink half of your body weight in ounces of water each day. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, shoot for 75 ounces of water. And of course be sure you’re drinking CLEAN water. If you have city water filter it!
- Supplement with omega-3 fish oil. Omega 3 fatty acids are important in cellular function, especially for your cardiovascular system and nervous system. And since fish oil is nature’s anti-inflammatory, supplementing with it can help decrease joint pain. A study published in Surgical Neurology found that 60% of patients who used fish oil for 75 days saw an improvement in their pain and 59% were able to discontinue their NSAID use. Beware, all fish oil isn’t of equal quality! You need to be careful with the brand you choose.
In reality, my list could go on and on! But in an effort to “keep it simple” and encourage you to take action now, I won’t overwhelm you with more. Pick one of these and get started today!