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Patients visiting our chiropractor for pinched nerves in Draper Utah, Dr. John Cheney, often ask how to keep their adjustments in place and avoid triggering nerve pinching or compression to develop again. It would be a waste of effort to have regular chiropractic adjustments without lifestyle modifications. So, we thought of sharing a list of lifestyle tips that can help you steer clear of situations that might cause postural imbalances in your spinal column or aggravate your nerve pinching problem.
#1 – Work on your body posture
An adult head can weigh around 8 to 12 pounds or roughly as heavy as a medium-sized bowling ball. Suppose your head tilts off-centered because your upper neck bones shifted by a few millimeters to the right. What would you think will happen to your spinal column?
Naturally, the rest of your vertebral bones have to adjust to keep the head upright. And because of that, some of your nerve tissues become susceptible to pinching or compression.
At this point, you don’t want to add more mechanical pressure on the misaligned spinal bones. So it would help to work on your posture and resolve issues like tech neck, swayback, and lordosis.
#2 – Say no to a sedentary lifestyle
Are you guilty of inactivity or sedentary living? Here are some ways you can jazz up your usual routine and avoid sitting down for hours:
- Find tools or pieces of equipment you can use to work out at home
- Dedicate at least 10 minutes to walk around, especially during a long workday
- Build new habits and find hobbies that promote an active lifestyle
- Have a fitness buddy at home like your pets, kids, or partner
#3 – Stretch your body
Seeking the help of a chiropractor for pinched nerves in Draper Utah is just one part of your journey towards achieving lasting nerve compression relief. If you want to help your body retrain your spine, you must commit to a regular stretching exercise routine. Here are a few examples of stretching exercises you can conveniently do anywhere:
- Triceps stretch
- Latissimus stretch
- Pectoralis stretch
- Standing hamstring stretch
- Trunk rotation
- Lower back stretch
- Neck stretch
#4 – Mind your weight
Excessive body mass can significantly aggravate nerve compression because every extra pound puts about 4 pounds of pressure on the vertebral column. That’s why doctors and therapists looking after patients with pinched or compressed nerves strongly recommend keeping an ideal weight. Below are tips to help you shed unwanted fat tissues:
- Get moving and engage in aerobic exercises
- Stay away from processed food products
- Choose veggies and fruits at snack time
- Drink enough water
- Picture the benefits of losing weight every time you work out
- Avoid situations that promote binge eating
#5 – Get enough sleep every day
As much as possible, you should have up to eight hours of restorative sleep to help your body cope with nerve compression. Otherwise, you might suffer from consequences like decreased pain tolerance and impaired tissue healing. You might also increase your risk for hypertension and arterial ischemia, which can reduce blood flow to your irritated nerve roots and cause temporary or lasting tissue damage.
#6 – Control your sugar consumption
Too much sugar is terrible for the body, especially when you already have compressed nerve roots. It can lead to diabetic neuropathy and a plethora of unpleasant symptoms such as:
- Tingling or burning feeling on the upper and lower limbs
- Increased touch and pressure sensitivity
- Increased susceptibility to foot problems like joint pain, ulcers, and infections
- Severe lower back pain
- Eventual muscle shrinking in the thigh region
- Upset stomach
- Facial muscle paralysis
#7 – Consider dietary adjustments
Besides minding your sugar consumption, there are other diet changes that you should keep in mind if you want to maximize the benefits of your neck bone adjustments. Here are some specific examples:
- Avoid food products that you’re sensitive to, like gluten, nuts, and dairy
- Try eating more low-fat and vegetable-based products
- Skip your favorite artificial sweeteners
- Never miss a meal, even when you have a hectic schedule
- Say yes to antioxidant-rich food products like berries, bell pepper, and watermelon because they help fight inflammation
- Add green leafy veggies to your meals to absorb nerve-protecting nutrients like Vitamin B and alpha-lipoic acid
- Satisfy your sugar cravings with low-glycemic index fruits
#8 – Schedule regular visits to your chiropractor for pinched nerves in Draper Utah
Cervical chiropractic adjustments effectively relieve nerve pinching, regardless of whether the compression affects the cervical, thoracic or lumbar nerve roots. Many of our patients here at Source Chiropractic and Wellness can attest to the effectiveness of the atlas and axis bone corrections that Dr. Cheney provides.
If you have already begun receiving chiropractic adjustments, we strongly suggest scheduling a regular visit. With proper patient care and lifestyle adjustments, your visits to our practice can help you hold the adjustments in place and prevent potential cervical subluxations.
Furthermore, by adding upper cervical care to your healthcare plan, you can eliminate signal interferences so your body can do a fantastic job of protecting itself from illnesses and nerve damage.
Call our chiropractor for pinched nerves in Draper Utah, at 385-237-3110, or write to us using our online form to schedule your visit. We look forward to seeing you at your next appointment.
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Cheney, call our Draper office at 385-331-7035. You can also click one of the buttons below.
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