Which Small Lifestyle Changes Have a Significant Impact On Wellness?
Chiropractor Experts
Which Small Lifestyle Changes Have a Significant Impact On Wellness?
Discover how small lifestyle changes can revolutionize chiropractic care journeys. Insights from a Founder and Chiropractor reveal effective strategies. Learn about improving posture and the benefits of daily exercise. This article features five expert insights that can transform well-being.
- Improve Posture Awareness Throughout the Day
- Incorporate More Movement into Daily Routines
- Use the Right Pillow for Sleep
- Desensitize Pain by Testing Limits
- Engage in Daily Exercise
Improve Posture Awareness Throughout the Day
One small but impactful lifestyle change I've seen in chiropractic care is improving posture awareness throughout the day. Many clients experience chronic pain due to poor posture, particularly from sitting at desks or using phones for extended periods. When clients are encouraged to make small adjustments, such as using ergonomic chairs, adjusting monitor heights, or taking regular stretch breaks, their chiropractic outcomes can significantly improve.
What surprised many clients was how quickly these adjustments reduced their pain and tension between visits. It also helped them sustain the benefits of chiropractic adjustments for longer periods by minimizing daily strain on their spine and joints. This small shift often leads to lasting improvements in overall health and posture.
Incorporate More Movement into Daily Routines
A small yet impactful change is simply encouraging clients to incorporate more movement into their daily routines, such as walking more frequently. For instance, taking a brisk 10-15 minute walk during breaks, using stairs instead of elevators, or parking farther from the entrance helps keep the body active. This additional movement promotes better circulation, reduces stiffness, and supports the chiropractic adjustments by keeping joints and muscles more limber, which aids in faster recovery and longer-lasting relief.
Use the Right Pillow for Sleep
One small lifestyle change that makes a huge impact on a patient's spinal health is using a pillow that is right for their sleeping position and body size. I like to call it "sleep ergonomics." Most patients are aware of their ergonomic set-up while working, but very few ever consider how their sleeping positions or pillow affect their posture.
Desensitize Pain by Testing Limits
One of the biggest changes I see with my patients at the clinic is when they realize that it's okay—and even necessary—to "poke" the pain in order to desensitize more sensitive areas in their body. These are patients who, despite their chronic condition, gradually return to activities they had long abandoned, with a better understanding of managing persistent chronic pain. They test their limits to gain a more objective perspective, allowing them to regress into a comfort-discomfort zone and progress at their own pace. This helps them improve rather than getting trapped in erroneous psychological barriers that would have gradually reduced their endurance over the years, under the false sense of security that long-term inactivity can bring.
Engage in Daily Exercise
The greatest lifestyle change that has an impact on a client's care journey and overall health is engagement in daily exercise. All it has to be is walking at a fast pace for about 25 minutes per day. This small change can have massive impacts on how one feels and responds to overall care.
