Weekend Warriors
Spring is here and with the nice weather we see an increase in physical activity. In order to decrease the likelihood of injury, it is very important to remember to stretch before and after any physical activity. Raking the lawn, weeding the garden, painting the house, playing golf, softball, tennis or any of the many other activities we begin in spring can cause repetitive strain on the muscles and ligaments. Stretches done prior to beginning any of these activities is well worth the time. As important as it is to stretch before activity, it is more important to stretch afterwards. Stretching should be done slowly without bouncing. Stretch to where you feel a slight, easy stretch. Hold this feeling for 1-2 minutes, yes minutes, until the feeling of tension diminishes. If it doesn't diminish, you probably have a high threshold of pain and need to ease off slightly into a less aggressive stretch.

If not stretching for sports but stretching for health and flexibility, after holding the easy stretch, you can move a fraction of an inch farther into the stretch until you feel mild tension again. This second stretch will reduce tension and safely increase flexibility. It should be held again for 1-2 minutes until the feeling of stretch tension diminishes slightly. Hold only stretch tensions that feel good to you. The key is to be relaxed while you concentrate on the area being stretched.

In the vigorous activity of spring fun, spinal care is more important than ever. A healthy spine assures your nervous system of uninterrupted flow of nerve impulses to every part of your body. Regular spinal checkups help correct small subluxations that occur with vigorous activity and minor bumps and bruises before they create major problems. For a greater enjoyment of spring fun, stop into the office.