Work Smart / Play Smart
These days, women are more active than ever, both in the workplace and at play. Whether you spend your days standing, running around in heels, sitting at a desk, or working on leveling up your performance at the gym, routine trips to the chiropractor can help to improve your overall health and well-being, while eliminating the aches and pain of everyday life.
Below are 5 life hacks recommended by Doctor of Chiropractic to help get by between trips to your local chiropractor.
1. Invest in a bra that fits properly: 15% of women own a bra that fits correctly, which means 85% of women are wearing the wrong size bra everyday! A properly fitting bra can significantly reduce additional stress on the spine and help reduce shoulder and back pain throughout the day caused by breast size.
2. Ditch the heels, when you can: 72% of women in America report wearing high-heeled shoes on a regular basis and 58% complain of low back pain while wearing them. So how can you find relief if you wear heels to work everyday? For starters, reduce the heel to under 2 inches, which will help minimize the risk of back and muscle fatigue. Also, be sure to stretch leg and calf muscles before, during and after wearing your heels. And finally, consider limiting the time you wear them – kick em’ off under your desk if possible.
3. Avoid sitting for long periods: Each year we spend an estimated 1,700 hours in front of our computers answering phone calls, writing reports and responding to emails. However, this sedentary work life can take a real toll on our bodies. In fact, 89% of office workers report experiencing musculoskeletal pain and discomfort. This is why it’s essential to make time to get up and move. Whether it’s a short walk around the office or a few simple stretches, making time to move can relieve strain on the body and reduce the likelihood of pain throughout your day.
4. Adjust your workspace: Pay attention to the ergonomics of your setup, whether at home or in the office. Make sure your work space doesn’t require hunching forward or neck craning at unnatural angles just to see your screen. Over time, this unnatural posturing places pressure and tension on the body which can lead to chronic inflammation, pain, and misalignment along the spinal column.
5. Routinely visit your local chiropractor: Chiropractic is not just a solution for back pain, it’s key to helping improve a woman's overall health and well-being, maintaining spinal health and proper joint function, which ultimately keeps your body balanced, flexible and functioning at its best.
