Movement Essentials
By Dr Mary Bourke, Chiropractor.
We all know that we need to move more- movement of our body is as essential for optimal functioning on a cellular level as nutrition is.
There has been much research over many years that tells us how and why specific nutritional deficiencies can affect us.
We are not quite as aware of how Movement deficiencies can cause problems.
As a Chiropractor I have been in practice for over 30 years and I have definitely started to see the impacts that this decrease in movement is having on the spinal function of my patients- both young and old.
Things have changed dramatically over the past 50 years particularly. Everyone now drives everywhere and the majority of people are working sitting looking at computers all day. When we go home we are sitting on the lounge watching netflix and TV and then heading to bed.
Children too are not moving as much as they traditionally would have and this is having an impact on postural growth and development as well as learning and behaviour.
People are needing to go and spend time in gyms getting exercise as they are not getting enough incidental movement into their day.
What can we do to get more incidental movement into our lives?
1/ Walk to work - or park your car 15 minutes away from work
2/ Walk and talk with friends: instead of going to a cafe and sitting…. go for a walk together and sit in a park and have a coffee.
3/ Meet at the park with friends with children and they can get plenty of movement while having fun in the sun…even run around yourself and play- kids love that.
4/ Meet and go for a bush walk with friends- pack a picnic
5/ Take a ferry/tram/train ride and explore a new area on foot when you get there
6/ Use public transport as there is more likely to be some incidental movement involved.
7/ Sit on the floor while watching TV- this means at least we are getting up and down from the floor, and when sitting on the floor we are more likely to be moving to adjust our position occasionally.
8/ Make sure everyday you get away from your computer screen and get outside and look into the distance- this is exercise for your eyes. We need to use the muscles that move our eyes and allow them to relax.
9/ Get some more bending into your life at home by putting some of the kitchen items you are use often into the lower draws so that each time you need to use it you have to bend or squat down.
10/ Use your jaw muscles and joints more by eating more raw food that requires more chewing and eating the whole food- eg whole apple and carrot that requires more effort to bite a piece off.
Having the body moving well assists with Digestive function, Mental function, emotional states as well as Spinal pain and dysfunction.
…………..So get moving!!
If you find that you are not moving well and pain and discomfort are stopping you from getting out and about come and talk to us and we will see what we can do to help.