Starting your day the right way can give your body a little boost as it prepares for the activity that’s ahead of it, Whether that be work or play. here are some tips:

When you get out of bed, greet the day with some stretching. There are lots of different stretches, but try this: stretch your arms above your head and hold for 10 seconds and feel your spine straighten out. Put your hands on your hips and rotate gently at the waist. Hold for 10 seconds to the right, and then 10 seconds to the left.

The hallmark of chiropractic treatment is the spinal adjustment, a manipulation of the vertebrae — the individual bones that make up the spine. The purpose of the adjustment is to make sure those bones, through which the spinal cord stretches, are properly aligned. That’s important because the nerves that carry information from the brain to various parts of the body emanate from the spine, and reach out between the vertebrae.

Generally, after the start of any new sort of physical activity you may feel a little soreness. Starting chiropractic treatment can yield the same result. So if you are among the roughly 30 million people who see chiropractors each year, welcome to the club. The most common side effect of chiropractic treatment is slight soreness.

Big bags — hobos, totes, messengers, the names change over years — are always in style. They’re functional, too, because they can hold a lot of, well, stuff. But that’s precisely where the risk can come in. Slung over one shoulder, they can eventually cause neck and shoulder pain similar to the kind of problem chiropractors see in kids who carry ill-fitting heavy backpacks. Women — and men — carrying such bags are contorting their posture to counterbalance a heavy bag that is pulling on one side. This can wreak havoc with muscles and with the spine.

After the experience of a nine-month pregnancy and delivery, few of life’s pleasures measure up to taking the new baby out to meet the world. That could be in the form of a walk, run or hike. The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has some thoughts for you to keep in mind on how to best enjoy that experience and avoid injury.

Workers who lift for a living need to take longer or more frequent breaks than they now do to avoid back injury, according to a new study at Ohio State University. The study also suggests that people who are new on the job need to take breaks even more often than experienced workers, and that the risk of injury is higher at the end of a work shift.

Despite the high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain during pregnancy, few women in
underserved populations receive treatment for their low back pain. Moreover, researchers
found that pain in a previous pregnancy may predict a high risk for musculoskeletal
complaints in future pregnancies. 85 percent of women who experienced pain in a previous
pregnancy reported pain during their current pregnancy.

Chiropractic services are part of the Standard Medical Benefits Package available to all eligible veterans. Similar to other specialties, access to VA chiropractic services is by referral from a VA primary care or specialty provider. VA provides these services on-site at one or more VA facilities in each Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN). VA facilities that do not have on-site chiropractic clinics provide these services via the VA Community Care Program or other community care mechanisms.

Here are more strategies to prevent injuries when lifting and carrying luggage:

• If using a backpack, make sure it has two padded and adjustable shoulder straps. Choose one with several compartments to secure various-sized items, packing the heavier things low and towards the center. Always wear a backpack on both shoulders—slinging it over one shoulder does not allow weight to be distributed evenly, which can cause muscle strain.

According to the U.S. Consumer Products safety Commission, in one year more than 50,000 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, clinics and other medical settings for injuries related to luggage.

Here are some strategies to prevent injuries when lifting and carrying luggage:

• Pack lightly. when possible, pack items in a few smaller bags instead of one large luggage piece. It is better—and may prevent muscle sprains and strains—to carry a lighter bag in each hand rather than one heavy bag in one hand or over one shoulder.