When you walk, over 200 muscles step up to allow you to move seamlessly. These muscles engage your spine and back as well. Consider the following five benefits of walking to supplement your chiropractic care.
- Prevents Back Pain
As a low impact exercise, walking is gentle on the back and burns around 265 calories for every 30 minutes. To avoid injury, it’s a good idea to avoid walking on concrete or uneven terrain. Exercise like walking also releases pain-relieving endorphins in the brain. This improves flexibility and mobility as well.
- Improves Circulation
Walking improves circulation throughout the body, this includes your spine. Circulation brings nourishment to the spine and muscles and washes away harmful toxins. Walking helps lower blood pressure and increases your stamina. The more you walk, the more you are able to walk.
- Enhances Mobility
When combined with a light stretching regime, walking can increase flexibility and contributes to good spinal health and improved posture. All of this enhances mobility and helps prevent unnecessary injuries that are often the result of strenuous cardio regimes.
- Hydrates Spinal Discs
Throughout daily life, the compression of your spinal discs squeezes out water that fills the discs and cushions your vertebrae. The circulation that comes from walking moves water into the area, thereby supporting the spine. The discs themselves also absorb water, which enables them to do their job as shock absorbers.
- Helps with Weight Loss and Weight Management
Extra weight on the body places unnecessary strain on the spine. Lower abdomen weight causes lower back pain. Walking helps reduce pressure placed on the body by excess water weight by removing it. It also reduces your risk of diabetes and high blood pressure.