October is National Spinal Health Month!

We all know October as the beginning of fall and the kick-off to the holiday season!  Did you also know that October is National Spinal Health Month?  As our little ones carry those holiday bag of candies or backpacks to school, it is important for you to know how to protect them, and yourself, from spinal injuries.  Back and spinal injuries are high on the list of the most devastating injuries that can be very expensive and difficult to treat.

Back and spinal injuries are quite common, but they are also preventable. Here are some tips to protect your spinal health:

Be careful how you lift. The best way to lift something without hurting yourself is to bend your knees and squat, tightening your stomach muscles and holding the object close to you as you stand up.  Do not twist your body while you are lifting.

Sleeping position. For side sleepers, sleep with your knees pulled up slightly toward your chest. If you sleep on your back, put one pillow under your knees and another under your lower back.  Sleeping on your stomach is usually not recommended as it tends to cause back pain.

Get more exercise. It has been found that regular physical activity can help ease inflammation and muscle tension.  So if your back is hurting and you have the notion that you should take a break from working out, you may actually be prolonging your pain.  Continue a steady and comfortable workout routine.

Now that you have the ability to take care of your spinal health, let’s review some tips to protect your child’s spinal health:

Practice Good Posture. Most kids have horrible posture.  As babies and children, their bodies are more flexible and bounce back easier than adults.  Sleeping in weird positions, such as hanging of a couch, will not cause permanent damage, however this is the time to help them develop good posture habits.  Slouching will not cause a child to experience back pain, but if this habit continues in their twenties and thirties, they will definitely feel the pain.

Start strength training. This could be questionable for parents since you typically would not have your young child lift weights or use machinery to work out, but strength training is more than that.  Push-up and lunges are a perfect exercise for kids.  This is not meant to build muscle, but is an important back injury prevention exercise and helps them with their motor skills as an added bonus!

Watch the Weight They Carry. Backpacks are the most important weight to watch.  All individuals should ONLY carry 10% of their weight and the weight should be distributed evenly across both shoulders - not one.  This means that a fifty-pound child should only be carrying five pounds of weight on their back.

What will you do this month to help your spine?  Answer the question below in the comment section below for a chance to win a FREE 1-hour massage at San Diego Spine Rehab! Good luck!

To learn more about the Jurewitz Law Group, visit us at www.jurewitz.com!