Activities we do every day, whether in sports or daily life, can put a lot of strain on our spine, and spine health can greatly impact our overall well-being. “What everyone needs to remember is that the spine is so important to everything we do, whether it’s just getting out of bed and walking, this time of year, raking up leaves and getting ready for winter or even the weekend warriors with all their activities,” said Dr. Philip Louie, spine surgeon. Strengthening your core and building flexibility can help you reduce your risk of injury. Stretching and other exercises can support core strength, posture and flexibility. “It’s really important to stretch before any activity, whether that’s gardening, whether that’s playing golf, whether that’s playing football,” said Dr. Venu Nemani, spine surgeon. Completing these stretches before an activity can help keep your spine healthy: Basic hamstring stretch: Lean forward and try to touch your toes. You can also do this sitting down. Rotational core stretch on knee: With one knee down and one knee bent forward, clasp your hands in front of you. Then, reach to the opposite side of your front knee with your arms open. Switch to your other knee and repeat. Rotational core stretch on ground: Lying on your back with your feet planted on the ground, let your knees fall to one side while trying to keep your back on the ground. Repeat on other side. Golfing is an activity that can exacerbate a back problem if you have one, so it’s important to think about your stance. Make sure to have a comfortable stance without locking your knees and keep your back relatively straight. “The key when you swing is not to swing too hard but to be nice and balanced,” Dr. Nemani said. You can find Dr. Louie and Dr. Nemani’s full list of spine-strengthening exercises on the Virginia Mason Franciscan Health website. Sponsored by Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Segment Producer Suzie Wiley. Watch New Day Northwest at 11 a.m. weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.