4 Ways Walking Benefits Your Back

Walking is a simple, inexpensive and easy activity with many benefits for health and general wellbeing. Walking regularly can improve heart and lung function, aid in weight-loss, decrease bone loss, and can also boost mood, alertness and energy levels, but did you know that walking can be beneficial to your spine as well? Here are 4 ways walking benefits your back:

1. Increases circulation to the spine

Walking increases circulation, bringing the body into balance, increasing stamina and lowering blood pressure. The continual flow of blood ensures that nutrients make it to the spine and surrounding soft tissues. This increased flow of blood to the spine keeps it supple and healthy.

2. Helps rehydrate spinal discs

Our daily bodily movements cause compression on the spinal discs, squeezing out the discs water that provides a cushion for the vertebrae. The increased circulation from walking helps to rehydrate the discs by moving water into the spongy discs. This provides extra shock absorption for the spine and can help prevent degenerative changes to the spinal joints.

3. Improves postural position

Poor posture is often the result of sedentary positions such as office work or extended use of computers and mobile devices. Poor posture places extra pressure on the spine which can lead to tension, soreness, headaches and back pain.

Walking strengthens the body and helps position the spine in its upright natural shape. When walking properly, you naturally adopt proper posture. Good posture allows you to breathe better and can help reduce fatigue and the other side effects associated with bad posture.

4. Relieves spinal stress and back pain

Walking is a low impact exercise that assists in improving flexibility and mobility. Accompanied by a regimen of stretching, walking can improve flexibility and better range of motion. Extra body weight causes stress on the joints of the spine. Walking aids in weight loss and weight management, which in turn relieves the stress extra body weight causes the spine.

Contact us

Chiropractors can assess your spinal health and provide the chiropractic care needed to help you look after your spine. If you would like more information about the benefits of walking or want advice on how to look after your spine or posture, I am a Brisbane chiropractor in Brisbane CBD and would love to help you out. Contact the Brisbane CBD Chiropractor today.