Spring is in the Air

Being from Rhode Island, I didn't really like Spring for its weather. It could still snow up until April (or May!) and when it rained, it was usually very bitter and cold. The trees were bare and the grass wasn't green yet. The roads were still covered in sand and salt. But, the promise of Summer was in the air! The days were getting longer and plants were starting to bloom. Not that I ever witnessed it, but hibernating animals were waking up. Once I moved to Florida, Spring was much nicer, in my opinion (and so was Winter!).

The Spring season begins when the Sun shines directly on the equator and the lengths of day and night are nearly equal. This typically occurs between March 19th - 21st.  The first day of Spring is known as the "Vernal Equinox". In Latin, the word vernal means “spring” and equinox means "equal night". In the North Pole, the spring equinox marks the start of six months of uninterrupted daylight while in the South Pole, it means the start of six months of darkness. The reason we have seasons is because of the Earth’s tilt. If the Earth was perfectly perpendicular to the sun, there would be no change in seasons or hours of daylight. When it becomes Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, it becomes Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.

There is a lot to look forward to during the Spring season besides warmer weather and longer days. There are a number of holidays and celebrations including April Fool's Day, Ramadan, Easter, Earth Day, Administrative Professionals Day, May Day, Star Wars Day, Cinco de Mayo, the Kentucky Derby, Mother's Day, Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day, and Juneteenth. It is a time to remember, give thanks, and try to be a better human.

As people get outside more and become more active, there is a greater chance of injury. This is especially true if you spent your winter cooped up inside where it was warmer.  If you plan to start a new exercise routine or join a local athletic recreational league, be sure you have realistic expectations and get your body ready for the increased activity. It is great to set goals and expectations but remember that you need to give yourself time to reach those goals. Be sure to set time aside to warm up and cool down with each activity. Consider cross-training because this will target different muscle groups, improve agility, and make it easier to participate in a variety of activities.  

You will also be less likely to get bored with this approach, lose interest, and quit. Chiropractic care should be an important part of your health care routine. Starting care before you increase your activity levels will help your body handle the new physical load and improve healing time. Continuing with chiropractic care can help reduce muscle soreness while improving your range of motion. Keeping my patients active and enjoying life to its fullest are two of my biggest goals with every adjustment I give.