Protect Your Spine Health This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, family, and feasting. However, hours of cooking, lifting heavy dishes, and lounging can take a toll on your body. This year, prioritize spine health to enjoy every moment pain-free. Check out some tips below to help you protect your back so you can fully embrace the holiday.

1. Lift Smart in the Kitchen

Heavy roasting pans and casserole dishes can strain your back quickly. Always bend at your knees, not your waist. Keep dishes close to your body as you lift. Moreover, ask for help with the turkey—there's no shame in teamwork!

2. Practice Good Posture When Cooking

Standing for hours while prepping meals challenges your spine health. While this might surprise some, wearing supportive shoes while cooking can help alleviate pressure on your back. You can also try placing one foot on a low stool periodically. These simple adjustments reduce lower back pressure. Additionally, if you want to avoid hunching, keep your work surface at elbow height as much as possible.

3. Stretch Between Meal Prep

Our bodies weren’t meant to be in stiff, static positions for long periods of time. So as you’re prepping food for Thanksgiving, take breaks every 30 minutes to stretch. Try gentle back extensions and shoulder rolls. These quick movements prevent stiffness and keep you energized. Remember, your body thrives on movement.

4. Avoid "Couch Slouch" During the Game

Slouching on your couch for hours is one of the worst things you can do to your spine. And watching football for hours on the couch on Thanksgiving often means hours of poor posture. Try these tips on Thursday to avoid “couch slouch”:

• Use a lumbar pillow for support
• Sit with your feet flat on the floor
• Get up and walk during commercials

Your spine will thank you later.

5. Be Grateful for a Healthy Body

Being thankful for pain-free movement is a gift many take for granted. If you're experiencing discomfort, don't wait. At ChiroWerx, Dr. Kyle offers individualized, hands-on chiropractic care tailored to each patient. He focuses not only on adjustments but also on soft tissue work and therapeutic exercises.

This well-rounded approach has helped his patients recover from back pain, neck pain, and headaches. Better yet, our care is safe, natural, and effective.

6. Schedule Your Post-Holiday Adjustment

If Thanksgiving leaves you sore, we're here to help. Contact ChiroWerx by calling us at (980) 201-9484 to restore your spine health and start the holiday season feeling your best.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving pain-free—your body deserves it!