There is an old Indian saying that goes, “The body is as young as the spine is supple.”
As our scientific understanding of the neuromuscular system has developed, we’ve come to find that this statement is profoundly accurate. The spine plays an important role in our overall health. The spinal cord is a central hub for your entire nervous system.
Chiropractic care is primarily concerned with the health of the spine. The core theory behind chiropractic treatment is the theory of subluxations. Subluxations, when referring to vertebrae, are when one or more of the vertebrae are moved out of position and create pressure on a nerve or nerve cluster. Sometimes this only creates discomfort or minor pain, other times it creates more serious health problems throughout the body.
What Exactly is the Spine?
Before we can further discuss how a healthy spine promotes overall wellbeing, let’s talk more about the spine itself.
Your spine facilitates your locomotive function. Every movement you make involves the spine at some level. In addition to housing and protecting the spinal cord, the spine provides the main structural support of your skeletal system.
Your spine consists of 24 vertebrae separated by 5 discs. These are separated into five distinct sections: cervical (upper), thoracic (upper-middle) and lumbar (lower) [LINK: http://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-spinal-health]. At the very end of the spine are two smaller sections, the sacrum and coccyx.
There are hundreds of muscles and primary muscle groups involved with the motion of the spine. Each type of muscle group can be aggravated by certain external factors. For example, your iliopsoas complex can become tense with too much sitting without movement.
Perhaps the most important function of our spine is housing the spinal cord. Nerves from all over your body connect to the spinal cord. The aforementioned subluxations result in impaired or a complete loss of function in some regions of the body.
The Role of Your Spine in Your Overall Well Being
Your spine plays three primary roles in the overall wellbeing of your body. Each role is vital to your continued health.
1. Posture. Poor posture is not just an unflattering look, it can actually create serious problems. When you slouch, you are altering the structure of your spine and back muscles. You end up overloading certain regions with weight and pressure that they are not intended to support. Over time, poor posture can lead to degenerative disc diseases. John Lennon, BM, MM. C., discussed the effects of posture in an article in the American Journal of Pain Management [LINK: http://www.accessacupuncture.com/effects-of-posture-of-physiology/]:
We believe the posture affects and moderates every physiologic function from breathing to hormonal production. Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture.
This indicates that your posture directly impacts the overall function of your body. It takes time to counteract the poor habits that led to improper posture. Recovery involves chiropractic treatment, strengthening weakened muscles and cultivating the right postural habits.
2. Structure creates function. Your spine is the central hub for your skeletal and nervous system. A strong and healthy spine directly supports a healthy and functioning body. This applies both to locomotive function as well as respiratory, circulatory and digestive functions. A subluxation, the aforementioned pressure that can occur between vertebrae, reduces the overall structural integrity of the spine. This decreases the overall function of the body.
The nerve interference created by a subluxation is the biggest impairment of function. Distorting the messages sent along the nervous system can result in vital information not being received. This can disrupt the areas ability to function with the rest of the body. There is no limit to the number of health problems this can create. Correcting subluxations and ensuring a strong spinal structure is a prime focus of chiropractic treatment.
3. Spinal flexibility promotes health. As such an important neuromuscular hub, the flexibility of your spine is dramatically important. Losing some flexibility as you age may not be considered to be important, however, research has shown that flexibility plays a bigger role than simply touching your toes. Decreased range of motion in the back may be related to cardio vascular disease, arterial function and can be a factor in heart attacks and strokes.
The stiffness that can occur in your muscles also occurs in your arteries. The inability to bend your spine may relate to the inability for your arteries to remain loose and elastic. Arterial elasticity helps ensure proper blood flow and staves off a host of related disease.
What Can Lead to Spinal Problems?
There are dozens of causes of spinal problems. Sometimes, spinal issues can be genetic or the result of an injury. However, they are usually related to the patient’s lifestyle, posture and overall health. Someone who spends most of their time in front of a computer or lifting heavy loads will likely develop a spinal issue if they do not take preventative measures.
Chiropractic care is a perfect preventative treatment program. You do not need to wait until your back starts hurting to visit a specialist. Early treatment will help prevent major health issues that may occur in the future. Additionally, leading an active and healthy lifestyle will greatly reduce the risk of subluxations and other related diseases. by: Dr. Aaron Casselman, DC | Follow Me on Facebook
Pinnacle Chiropractic and Spinal Rehab Center
4185 Wildcat Reserve Pkwy #200
Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
(303) 683-5060
