Suffering from a back injury related to your spinal discs will likely take you to a chiropractor or one of the accident injury centers of Atlanta.
Fortunately, there are ways that you could potentially avoid spinal disc problems, and it all comes down to how you care for your discs.
By following a few simple tips, you can maintain a healthy spinal column.
What are Spinal Discs?
Your backbone is made up of many individual bones known as vertebrae. For the most part, we have five lumbar vertebrae, 12 thoracic, seven cervical, and one tailbone.
A cartilage cushion sits between each vertebrae, and they help to cushion the force that occurs when standing, sitting, running, and walking.
Ensuring that your discs and the cartilage found between are healthy is essential in making sure that you can carry out movements without pain.
How Should I Care for My Spinal Discs?
One of the most important ways to care for your spinal discs is to maintain a good neutral posture. How you lift something makes a big difference, and it is important to bend your knees and hold an item close to your body to reduce the pressure on your spinal discs. Whether you are lifting a child, a box, or a computer bag, this is something that it important to remember.
Several other tips are also beneficial when it comes to maintaining the health of your spinal discs. Drinking plenty of water is important, since spinal discs are composed mostly of water. While pure water is a good choice, iced tea, flavored water, and similar beverages can also help to keep you and your spinal column well-hydrated.
Smoking cessation is also important for the overall health of your spine, as smoking can dehydrate your discs. Discs that are not properly hydrated are more likely to become injured.
