I don't know about you, but when I see the sun out these days I begin to think that spring will actually arrive sooner rather than later. I see that I'm not the only one that gets the itch to get outside and take in as much sun as possible. I hear lots of talk about getting into shape for the summer whether it's to spend time at the beach, do some hiking or prepare for Ironman. Obviously I think exercising and being physically active is necessary for all, but from a chiropractic standpoint, I'd like to share some concerns with you as you delve into your spring fitness plan.

Many people that are just beginning a new exercise regimen as well as those experienced athletes may experience some discomfort or pain. You may feel this during the activity or after. You need to pay attention to it. The common mistake many make is to "work through the pain." This can be a huge mistake. There often is a certain amount of soreness with using muscles that haven't been used in a while, but I'm not talking about this kind of discomfort. I'm talking about pain that may be telling you that something is wrong.

I like to make the analogy of a car being out of alignment or your car's "check engine light" flashing. If those things are ignored, we all know that more damage can be done to your car. Wouldn't an alignment problem in a car cause serious wear and tear on the tires thus cause more serious and costly problems in the future? The same thing happens when warnings are ignored with our bodies. If your spine is not aligned and you continue to "drive" your body through the pain, you may very well be causing more serious problems for the health of your entire body. The pain that signaled something possibly being wrong with your body could be telling you there's a problem that has actually been present in your body for quite some time. Pain is often not felt until long after a serious problem has manifested itself in your body. You may not have any adverse symptoms at all until well after your "check engine light" should have signaled.

So how can you avoid injury or damage to your precious body while working on becoming fit or continuing your established fitness plan? Prevention would be my first piece of advice to keep your body "purring" like a well cared for sports car. Keep your body in check by not only eating right, getting enough sleep and drinking enough water, but by having your spine checked. Your spine houses the 24 bones that protect your spinal cord and the nerves that send the all important messages to your cells, organs, and tissues. If your spine is not aligned, you may be damaging other parts of your body and not allowing the many nerves to get these messages where they need to go.

So if you chose not to take the preventative measures that I suggest, please listen to your body. Don't ignore the "check engine light" that is flashing when you're in pain during or after your workout. Your joints, muscles, tissues and organs want to be given the best opportunity possible to run smoothly.... like the car analogy I mentioned. To do this for yourself and help to ensure many more healthy years of being active and fulfilled, make it a priority to have your spine checked. I see many people every day that are happier, healthier and on their way to a more active life because they chose to stop ignoring the signs that were leading them down the wrong path...the path to an unhealthy and unfulfilled life.

If you have questions about how chiropractic can help to make your body function at its best, please call us at (208) 667-7434 or check us out on the web at wwwCDAhealth.com. You can also find us on Facebook by searching "Spoelstra Family Chiropractic."