Spring is shrugging off winters coat and allowing the growths of the new season to poke through. It’s a time of new beginnings, hopes and the laying of new foundations.
Chiropractic’s Beginnings
On 7th March, way back in 1845, the very foundation of Chiropractic was planted with the birth of Daniel David (DD) Palmer.
Now, he might not be a man you know anything about, but he delivered the first “chiropractic adjustment” and improved the hearing of a partially deaf janitor.
Two years later in 1897, he opened the first chiropractic school and, “DD” became known as the father of Chiropractic. And that, at least, is something that I am very grateful for.
Your Foundations
Did you know that March is National Bed Month? A piece of kit that we all LOVE to spend time on and yet so many take completely for granted. We spend a third of our life in bed – so it really IS important to get it right.
Your bed, or more specifically, your mattress, can be the cause of your early morning pains and stiffness. If I had a pound for every time I’ve heard someone say they can’t move easily for the first hour in the morning, then I’d be doing ‘alright’. But my first question after that statement is always the same: How old is your mattress?
The answers are getting better more recently but so many of us seem to think that mattresses simply go on for ever and ever. Unfortunately, it simply isn’t the case. So how old is YOUR mattress?
Most mattresses will last 10 years. A REALLY good one might last 15. But, as I’m sure you’ve seen on the adverts, it’s worth checking how supportive your slumber-cushion is after 8 years.
What should I be looking for in a mattress?
Your mattress is there to keep you comfy and help you get a restful, restorative night’s sleep so you get up and get on with the day ahead. The best way it does this is by supporting you in a position that replicates the way you [should] stand. So no part of your body should be forced to up or to droop.
This may sound like quite a taste, but actually there are 2 simple ways to assess which mattress is the right one for you:
Firstly, lie facing the ceiling and put your hand under the small of your back. You should be able to get your fingers in partway. If you can get your whole hand in, then the mattress is too hard. If you can’t get your fingers in at all, this option is too soft.
Secondly, you want to lie on your side. A good mattress will ‘give’ to accommodate your hips and shoulders but should come up to meet your waist. Now, you’ll need a partner or friend at this point, because when you’re on your side the mattress should be holding your spine in a straight line and that’s a bit easier for someone else to see!
Don’t worry about your neck at this point – pillows are a separate issue and depends on what position you tend to sleep in.
What do I do now?
Go and check your mattress! Hopefully that all makes sense, but if you have any more questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Hope that’s put a Spring back in your Morning Step!?
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