Did you know that the human body has over 200 separate bones? These bones support out bodies and keep us upright every minute of every hour of the day. Even when you are sitting down, you are being supported. It’s for this reason that you should be taking care of your bones, and most importantly, your spine.

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Think about it, we spend every day either in work that is manual labour, or sat upright at a desk, which can put a lot of pressure on your spine and cause pain. Emotional tension in your life can also greatly affect your muscles and contribute to back pain. There is a lot of ways that spinal pain and issues in the back can affect other areas of the body, such as the pelvis and neck. While there are plenty of ways to help the pain that affects the spine and the neck, including artificial cervical disc replacement, it’s important that before you end up on an operating table that you try to manage the pain yourself. Keeping your spine and bones that are attached to the spine healthy is going to help you go a long way and we’ve put together some tips on how you can keep yours supporting you for longer.

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1. Understand that when you rest, your spine needs to as well. Laying down for bed at night gives your back a chance to relax and be relieved of pressure. You need to make sure you’ve invested in your bed correctly. Supportive mattresses, as well as a bigger number of pillows, are needed to support your preferred sleeping position, so when you invest well in them you are investing in your own spine health.
2. Exercising isn’t just good for your weight and fitness, but for your overall core strength. Your muscles play as big a part in supporting your spine as a good mattress! Core muscles need to be strengthened regularly so that you can feel well supported.
3. Believe it or not, your clothes can make a difference to your posture and your back health. Shoes that support your lower back will have an overall impact on the way you walk and provide a supportive base.
4. The one thing that can really go a long way to supporting your spine, pelvis and neck is a good and regular massage! It doesn’t just help you relax your muscles and undo the knots that can contribute to spinal pain. The endorphins are a natural painkiller and will be released into your bloodstream, and give you the chance to take less pain medication. It also can greatly encourage blood flow to the affected areas.
5. When you sit down, the discs in your spine take more pressure than when you stand. It’s important to ensure that you are sitting with good posture and the right ergonomic furniture when you do so that you can minimise that pressure and further injury on your spine. Your spine matters, so treat it the way you want it to treat you!