At Tannenbaum Chiropractic we often hear people lament that they are not nearly as flexible as the used to be. They say that they feel as though their neck and/or back range of motion has diminished over time. This lament is not just heard at the chiropractors office, but is universally discussed as we all notice that tasks which used to be simple are no longer so simple because of decreased flexibility.

Granted time does take a toll on the joints and muscles of our bodies that cause reduced range of motion and stiffness, but we can minimize the affect of aging on joint and muscle mobility by following some basic healthy living practices . Here are some suggestions I have:

First, you should be treated by a chiropractor on a regular basis. Patients at our Ann Arbor chiropractic office often tell me that one of the first things they notice after getting chiropractic treatments is that the joints of their body move more easily with increased range of motion. Next, you should have a stretching routine that you practice almost daily that stretches as many joints/muscles in your body as possible especially the joints/muscles of your pelvis and spine (including the neck portion of your spine). You should exercise regularly as many muscles as possible in part to promote good blood flow through the muscles. You should have a healthy diet that is filled with noninflammatory foods and inflammatory reducing foods. Finally, you should maintain your weight on the lite side of your BMI range.

These flexibility increasing and stiffness reducing tips should ideally begin in childhood, but they can be started later in life even (and especially) if your a senior and still be very effective. Follow these tips and hopefully, you will begin to notice better joint movement and reduced stiffness.

We're always open for questions about chiropractic or our blog posts. We can be emailed at our Ann Arbor office at [email protected]