Are You Ready For Life?

Next week (May 20-26th) is Spinal Health Week and this years emphasis is on prevention and proper spinal movement and function which is vital to the health of your body, mind and nervous system. The Australian Chiropractic Association is running an educational campaign to highlight the importance of this called "Ready For Life." I have included some interesting information and statistics from the campaign below.

As we all know life is full of unknowns, but you can take simple and practical steps now to be ready for life at any age. Currently 15% of the Australian population are aged 65 and over, and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that this will increase to 22% by 2056.1 This increase in the age of the population puts additional strain on the government to provide care for older Australians.2 

Chiropractors are ideally placed to assist in the healthcare of Australians as they age and potentially help improve their quality of life.3

According to the World Health Organization, musculoskeletal conditions that reduce mobility, dexterity and functional ability, are the second largest cause of disability worldwide. Musculoskeletal conditions can have a damaging effect on your quality of life by affecting your ability to participate in work, social activities and sports. In Australia, 3.7 million people reported back problems in 2015 alone.4

With statistics like these and the burden of low back pain ranking first in Australia,5 it is likely that you or someone you know could suffer from back pain.  Improving posture, maintaining an active lifestyle and keeping your spinal health in check can help you continue to do the things you love and always be Ready for Life!   

Did you know

• Australian chiropractors manage an estimated 21.3 million patient visits per year.11

  1. Chiropractic care is drug and surgery free.

  2. Chiropractic care is backed by scientific studies from around the world.12

Chiropractors focus on the diagnosis, management and prevention of disorders of the spine, including the effects these disorders can have on your nervous system and general health.

Chiropractors can also be seen as a preventative healthcare option by offering advice and assistance in making appropriate lifestyle choices and therefore reducing the risk of spinal health issues arising in the first place.

At MindFitBody we go a Step Further...

While good posture and exercising regularly are important factors in maintaining spinal health it is also important to assess the physiological and psychological factors that play a role as well. Utilising Kinesiology, NET and Neural Organisation Technique we can help to ensure that your body is functioning in a balanced way and assist with your resilience to various forms of stress common in our modern lives. A regular spinal healthcare regime can assist with ensuring that you maintain this state more often than not and keep you Ready For Life!

10 Things You Can Do To Help Keep You Ready For Life!

1. Move regularly - try to incorporate movement into all parts of your day. 
2. Avoid sitting for more than 45 min continuously. Even if you are under the pump at work something simple like standing to read an email can make a big difference at the end of the day.
3. Exercise regularly - this can be more formal in the sense of gym workouts, sport or other classes to just things you can do at home like the "salute to the sun" exercise or the "seven minute workout" (app available). Taking the stairs or walking a little further to/from work can also help!
4. Drink plenty of filtered water! 30ml/kg is a general guideline.
5. In relation to your diet - Add good things first before taking away the bad things.
6. Catch how you are holding yourself regularly (posture), you can even set an alarm or notification - once its in your awareness it is more likely to become  a habit.
7. Eat plenty of vegetables - particularly leafy greens - they are good alkalisers!
8. Take a moment each day to be grateful for the things you have.
9. Like your car - invest in your health before there is a breakdown! 
10. Tackle your challenges head on - they will often be easier to overcome than you anticipate this way.

If you know anyone that suffers issues that are impacting their ability to do want they want in life please feel free to pass it on.

Yours in health,

​Dr Mark Symonds 

CHIROPRACTOR / NET PRACTITIONER
NATURAL INTEGRATIVE HEALTHCARE
BChiroSc, MChiro, C.C.W.P., NLP Master Coach