Every year, the United Chiropractic Association, promotes a Spinal Awareness Week. The aim is to educate everyone on why looking after your spine is so important. Our spine is – literally – the backbone of our body. It holds us up, controls movement, passes messages up and down our bodies to our brains and, let’s face it, we’d be hopeless without one!

Apart from getting a regular adjustment, there are three small but vital adaptions we can make to the way we spend our days that will keep us on the track to spinal health:

Sitting: if you are mostly desk-bound, sit with both feet on the floor, knees lower than your hips, shoulders level and your head in line with your back. If you are staring at a screen, raise it up so you don’t hunch as you work.

Standing: likewise, if you are on your feet a lot, stand straight with your feet the width of your shoulders apart. Keep your weight over your heels and your shoulders back and down. Try not to lock your knees, as that causes wear on your joints.

Sleeping: If you can, sleep on your back, as this will keep your spine aligned; avoid sleeping on your stomach as that doesn’t! If you sleep on your side, a pillow between your knees will help keep your spine straight.

At the practice –––>
Estelle’s wrist is improving, although a little more slowly than she had hoped. She will be taking appointments from mid-May, plus Jo and Vanessa are keeping our schedules running smoothly. And… the latest excitement is that our wonderful Nell has been accepted to chiropractic college (but we are still waiting on the results of her application to medical school). We feel rather like proud new parents! 

At home –––>

Another way to stay on top form is to eat your greens! It’s now asparagus season, a delightful delicacy and a fantastically healthy vegetable with high levels of micronutrients like calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, vitamin C, B vitamins plus vitamins A, K and E. Asparagus is so simple to cook and takes just a few minutes: boil lightly, pan fry in butter or roast in olive oil. Top with a sprinkling of sesame seeds, grated parmesan or a little home made hollandaise sauce.