10 Strategies for Staying Healthy in 2022

healthy habits 2022 pickering ajax chiropractor

Did you make any New Year’s resolutions last month? As we enter this snowy February, we thought it would be a good time to review some goals for the year.

Here are our top 10 chiropractor-approved resolutions to help you stay healthy for the rest of the year:

1. Get A Good Night’s Sleep

Sleep is important to overall health. Both body and mind rest and refresh while you sleep. If you have difficulty sleeping, consult your chiropractor for help and solutions. Here are some tips to help you get a good night’s rest.

2. Warm Up

Before jumping in the pool, hitting the field or picking up a golf club, take 20 minutes to warm up. Your warm-up should include deep-breathing exercises, gentle stretching and range of motion exercises to loosen and warm your muscles and joints.

3. Cool Down

Cooling down after a workout is just as important as warming up. Take 20 minutes for a brisk walk or slow jog and stretch out your muscles and joints before heading for the change room or the car.

4. Practice Perfect Posture

Good posture not only makes you look better, but it also delivers increased energy, better breathing, and improved circulation. Good posture is actually an investment in your appearance AND your health. The secret to good posture is maintaining the spine’s natural curves. If your spine is misaligned, it can result in strain and pain.

5. Choose a Good Office Chair

Do you sit most of the day? While sitting seems restful, staying in any one position for too long can cause strain and injury to your muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments.

A good office chair helps a lot. The right chair should:

  • Adjust to suit your size or task
  • Adapt to support your spine in various working positions
  • Have a backrest that supports your lower back
  • Have a front edge that curves downward to promote proper posture

One last tip: Vary your sitting positions throughout the days to prevent injury and strain.

6. Prevent Neck Pain

Your neck is part of your spine, which runs from the base of your skull to the bottom of your back. Neck pain is a common problem with many possible causes. Poor posture, hunching over a computer, arthritis, whiplash, and muscle strain from simple things like reading in bed or grinding your teeth can all trigger neck pain.

Keeping your back safe and strong also protects your neck. Here are some tips to help you prevent neck pain.

7. Manage your Headaches

Tension headaches are common but they are not well understood. Most people describe having a band of pressure around their head that can last from 30 minutes to a week. Tension headaches can be related to muscles tightening in the back of the neck and improper alignment of the joints of the spine.

Record when your headaches occur and what you were doing before they started. Try to recognize the factors that cause or aggravate your headaches. Be sure to tell your chiropractor if you’ve noticed any changes in your usual headaches, such as frequency, duration or intensity, or if your headaches begin to worry you.

8. Prevent Falls

Anyone can fall, but the risk of slips and trips increases as you get older. Every year, one in three Canadians over 65 will fall – often with serious consequences.

Hip, wrist and pelvic fractures are common in this age group and can take a toll on independence and quality of life. Here’s a great list of tips to help you prevent falls.

9. Nourish Yourself

Meal timing is an important factor in maintaining energy levels. Skipping meals can cause blood sugar swings, often resulting in fatigue. People often skip meals and then wonder why they are tired in the afternoon.

To manage energy levels and prevent fatigue, you should eat at least three nutritious meals each day with the last meal well before bedtime.

10. Visit Pickering Village Chiropractic & Massage for year-round wellness

Working with a chiropractor and registered massage therapist will help you stay on track with your goals and pamper your spine.

The wellness team at Pickering Village Chiropractic & Massage provides patients with more than just chiropractic and massage therapy services, but also the know-how to build better personal wellness habits so you can be at your best for work or play, every day.

To book an appointment or learn more about the chiropractic and therapeutic massage therapy services available at our clinic, call 905-427-3202.

 

With content from the Canadian Chiropractic Association