For many, summer represents the best time of the year. School’s out, family vacations are in full view, and the feelings of freedom and relaxation seem to be abundant. However, if you’ve experienced a recent injury, or you’re dealing with chronic pain in the joints or back, the summer doesn’t look all that appealing. Pain keeps you from doing the things you love with the people you care about most.
Before giving up on your summer plans, know there are simple strategies for managing persistent pain and increasing your health at the same time. Here are several ideas to help you put your best, pain-free foot forward this season.
Understanding Common Types of Pain
During the warmer months, most people are more active than other seasons. Specific summertime activities, like hiking, paddle boarding, or waterskiing can lead to injuries, sore muscles, and achy joints in a hurry. In some cases, the body isn’t used to the increased activity level, and poor technique added to the mix can make things far worse. These missteps can lead to knee injuries or discomfort, a rotator cuff (shoulder) injury, or simply an all over achiness that isn’t easy to get rid of.
Get Chiropractic Help
One of the ways to move past summertime pain is with the help of a chiropractor. Using a variety of techniques, recovery from an injury is possible, as is avoiding a similar or new injury in the future.
Chiropractic care may involve the following:
Spinal adjustment – realigning the vertebrae of the spine allows the muscles to loosen while improving mobility and relieving pain.
Stretching and targeted exercises – chiropractic care also helps educate you about what stretching techniques are best before and after a specific activity.
Specific exercises may also be recommended by a chiropractor to help prepare for new summer activities the body has yet to experience.
Nutrition and lifestyle direction – some chiropractic care also involves a discussion of the right – and wrong – foods to eat before and after summertime activities, as well as suggestions for lifestyle changes that help prevent future injuries from taking place.
Staying Healthy
In addition to understanding common injuries and sources of pain, along with the advantages of chiropractic care for recovery and prevention, you can take certain steps to boost your health this summer. First, focus in on getting enough Vitamin D. The skin produces this crucial vitamin when exposed to sunlight, so don’t be afraid to get outdoors and soak up some rays. Vitamin D has been shown to give the immune system a much-needed boost over time, and it helps promote healthy bones while reducing inflammation. Don’t forget the sunscreen in the process, though!
You may also consider aiming more toward natural products during the summer months. While bug spray and sunscreen are a necessary part of life during summer, they are often heavy on toxins. Swapping out traditional sprays and lotions with essential oils can be a smart strategy for lowering your chemical exposure, keeping you, your children, and even your pets healthy.
The best thing you can do during the summer months is ensuring you are getting enough activity to keep your muscles and joints engaged, but also taking time to relax when possible. Chronic stress impacts every part of your body, whether you recognize the warning signs or not. Be sure to schedule some downtime in between activities – your body will thank you when the summer ends.