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Walking For Health

Nothing beats taking a walk through the beautiful trail system in St Albert in the fall. Did you know just by walking that more than 200 individual muscles spring into action which includes all of the muscles in your spine and pelvic area? Not only is walking for exercise is extremely good for you, it can be very beneficial to overall health, including your spinal health. In most cases, walking is an excellent complement to chiropractic care.

Here are five good reasons for Dr Vollrath’s patients to get moving:

RELIEVES AND PREVENTS BACK PAIN -. Walking is a low impact exercise and very gentle on the back, burning around 265 calories in 30 minutes. When exercising, pain-relieving endorphins are released. However, be sure to avoid walking on uneven terrain or concrete.

INCREASES CIRCULATION - Walking increases circulation throughout your body, including your spine. By increasing circulation, there is a continual flow of blood to the muscles and nutrients to the spine. While harmful toxins are drained away, soft tissues are nourished and enriched.

Walking also increases circulation, which, in turn, lowers blood pressure. The body is brought into balance and increases your stamina. When blood is moved through your body, it provides nourishment to all of your muscles, which makes you stronger and also makes it easier for you to exercise.

IMPROVED FLEXIBILITY AND MOBILITY - As the act of walking increases your circulation, flexibility and mobility are enhanced. By incorporating some light stretching, walking can increase your flexibility and give you a better range of motion. These benefits can reduce the risk of injury and improve your posture.

Dr. Vollrath recommends stretching in combination with cardio (such as brisk walking) to help with back pain management and good spinal health. By incorporating these recommendations in addition to your chiropractic care, these activities help your treatment work even better.

HELPS REHYDRATE SPINAL DISKS – Throughout the day movement causes your spinal discs to compress, which results in squeezing out the water that fills the discs, so they provide a cushion to your vertebrae. By increasing the circulation, vital water is channeled to the needed area. The water is absorbed and rehydrates the discs so they can continue to do their job as shock absorbers for the spinal column.

WEIGHT LOSS AND WEIGHT MANAGEMENT - Abdominal fat can create excess weight in the front of the body, causing significant stress and swayback effect to the spine. The pressure put on the lower back can result in pain in that area. The spine is part of the body’s core. The muscles that surround the spine aid in balance and movement. When those muscles become strained, they must work harder to maintain balance when excess weight is present.

Weight management and weight loss are helped by activities such as walking. The calories burned by walking attributes to the elimination or reduction of the effects of excessive weight.

As a simple activity like walking can benefit your whole body. Walking is a great way to: reduce your risk of heart disease, improve your blood sugar and blood pressure, curtail your risk of osteoporosis, assist in maintaining your body weight, improve your mental health, and can even lessen your risk of certain cancers.

As your spine is at the core of your body, good spinal health plays a part in every one of these conditions. A combination of walking and chiropractic care, you are giving your body its best chance at good health and optimal function.

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