We know you can still hear it like it was just yesterday – your mom advising (not nagging) you to do certain things while you were growing up. If you don’t eat your vegetables, no dessert! No coffee, it will stunt your growth. If you keep making that face, it will get frozen like that.
Well, your mother probably had some great advice for a healthy spine, so we hope you were paying attention. We’re almost certain everyone has heard these three pieces of advice at least once in their life. The good news is they can genuinely help you maintain a healthy spine.
Stop Slouching
We’re sure you’ve heard various versions of this throughout your life, from stop slouching to sit up straight. It turns out your mother was just trying to teach you correct posture.
You may be thinking that good posture isn’t very important. Why does it matter if you aren’t sitting up straight all of the time? This may surprise you but when it comes to maintaining good health, good posture is right up there with eating well, regular exercise, and getting enough sleep.
Since posture is a learned behavior, it’s important to focus on it early in life. Children with poor posture are more likely to develop back pain and other conditions of the spine as they age.
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Drink Your Milk
Was milk a staple at your table while you were growing up? We sure hope so. Turns out your mom knew what she was talking about – children do need calcium to build strong bones.
Below is the recommended daily intake of calcium for children of all ages.
- 1 to 3 years old — 700 milligrams of calcium daily
- 4 to 8 years old — 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily
- 9 to 18 years old — 1,300 milligrams of calcium daily
If children consistently don’t get their recommended daily intake of calcium, they are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis as they age because calcium is vital to developing bone mass.
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Lift With Your Knees, Not Your Back
Have you heard this one before? Learning how to properly lift any item is a skill that everyone should take the time to learn. Not sure what it means to lift with your knees and not your back? Well, if you’re bending at your waist or rounding your back when picking up an item, that means you’re using incorrect lifting posture.
To properly lift an item, use the following steps:
- Face the item and bend at your knees.
- Grip the item and lift, ensuring your back is straight.
- Don’t twist or turn while lifting, as it can place unnecessary stress on your spine.
- Hold the item close to your body. The further the item is from your body, the more it stresses your spine.
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If you received these healthy spine tips while you were growing up, it looks like you have another reason to thank your mother this Mother’s Day. So, among all of the other things you have to thank your mom for this weekend, don’t forget to thank her for caring about your spine health before you even knew you had to.