No matter what season it is, it’s always a great time to get outside and get active as long as the weather cooperates. Hiking is a great way to enjoy nature while reaping some fantastic health benefits in the process. When you add chiropractic care into the mix, you could find your healthiest you yet!
Benefits of Hiking
Hiking is a great cardio workout that can help improve your blood sugar levels as well as your blood pressure. It can also decrease your risk of heart disease.
What’s more, walking qualifies as a weight bearing exercise so it helps guard against osteoporosis by improving bone density. If you hike on a regular basis, you will find that your weight is better managed, your core is stronger, your mood is better, and your balance is improved.
As you hike, anxiety and stress will melt away. You will look better, feel better, and function better. The good news is, the more you do it, the more benefits you’ll see.
The more you work, the more you can work. As your body gets stronger, you will find that you can go farther and even challenge yourself on some of the more difficult trails. Just the act of moving will make you feel better, but get ready to get hooked!
Add Chiropractic to Hiking for Great Results
Incorporating regular chiropractic care into your life helps keep everything working as it should. When you are backing that care with cardiovascular exercise, you greatly increase the benefits of both.
The exercise strengthens your muscles while keeping you flexible with a better range of motion. Chiropractic supports this by keeping the spine in balance so that the joints all work as they should. When your body is balanced, you don’t have pressure on your joints or muscle groups working when they shouldn’t.
Chiropractic care is also focused on whole body wellness, so your chiropractor may recommend certain lifestyle changes or a special diet to support your hiking routine. If you get hurt, or even sore, from your hikes, chiropractic can help manage the pain or eliminate it completely.
You will heal faster so you can get back on the trail sooner. What’s more, chiropractic will increase your performance faster and your body will work much more efficiently. Combining the two creates a powerhouse that will provide you with fantastic health benefits for a very long time.
Tips for a Great Hike
When you set out to hike, you might feel great and want to get started right away. However, there are some things you need to pay attention to so that you can be sure your hike is productive and safe. There’s nothing like a knee, ankle, or back injury to mess up a great hiking routine. Stick with these tips to avoid any problems.
- A good warm up before your hike will improve your performance on the trail and reduce your risk of injury. Take a few minutes to warm up your muscles and stretch a little. Your body will thank you.
- Choosing the right shoes will greatly improve your hike. Look for footwear that is supportive, fits well, and allows your foot and ankle to work as they should. You will feel a good pair of shoes all the way up to your back – same as you’ll feel bad ones.
- Don’t try to conquer the toughest trail right off the bat. Start slow and work your way up to more challenging trails and longer hikes. For instance, you may want to start on a fairly level surface and gradually work up to areas with uneven terrain or even hills.
- If balance is an issue (or even if it’s not), you may want to add poles. They can help keep you balanced but do double duty by providing a great upper body workout.