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Your Spinal Health Is Important

Your spinal health is important. Here is why.

The health of your spine maybe isn’t something you think about on a regular basis, but believe it or not, your spine can impact the health and wellness of your entire body. The spine serves as far more than just a support mechanism for your back -- it also provides movement, protection, coordination and control. With all of those components at stake, it’s necessary to pay attention to your spinal health and ensure it is serving you and the rest of your body as best it can.

What’s the purpose of a spine?

Many people picture the spine as a series of vertebrae that allow you to move your back and head, but it’s so much more than that. Your spine supports and protects the spinal cord and central nervous system, which helps control your entire body. The spinal cord provide a connection between your brain and the rest of your body, allowing your brain to send signals outward and control everything from breathing to organ function.

The spine itself is composed of 24 bones called vertebrae that are connected by muscles and ligaments. This unique structure enables the spine to provide both structure and flexibility, supporting your body as it stands upright and allowing it to bend easily. A typical spine curves in an “S” shape when looked at from the side for optimum weight bearing, with the lower section, or lumbar spine, curving in slightly, the middle section, or thoracic section, curving out slightly, and the top section, or cervical spine, curving slightly inward again. That slight curve enables your spine to support extensive weight and stress healthily and safely.

What happens when your spine is out of alignment?

When your spine is out of alignment, it can put pressure on elements of your nervous system or the surrounding ligaments and muscles, reducing your body’s functionality and creating problems. Some common symptoms of spinal misalignment include back or neck pain, headaches, weakness in your muscles, stiffness, reduced range of motion or numbness. Due to the spine’s role in protecting the spinal cord, the symptoms of spinal problems can extend far beyond the back area, potentially affecting other functions of your body. That’s why it’s important to take care of spinal issues early, even if the pain seems tolerable. Left for a long time, misaligned spines get worse and worse.

Chiropractors specialize in performing adjustments to your musculoskeletal system in order to realign your system and remove any issues. Those adjustments usually take place over the course of several visits to gradually restore your body to its desired state and help alleviate symptoms like pain and limited mobility.

What causes spinal problems?

Misalignment or other problems in your spine can be caused by a wide range of factors, varying from simply sitting too long in one position to getting in a car crash. If you have poor posture, weak muscles, imbalanced muscles or poor mobility in your back, you may be more likely to wind up with a problem in your spine compared to others who have more flexibility and even strength. But spinal problems can happen to anyone, regardless of how flexible, strong or active they are beforehand. Some common causes of spinal problems include:

  • Repetitive motion: Those who frequently perform the same motion for work or regularly in their leisure time can develop spinal problems due to overuse of a certain muscle.
  • Sedentary work or lifestyle: If you sit regularly at a computer for work or spend much of your leisure time inactive, you may be at risk for a spinal problem. Sitting too long can lead to significant issues with your spinal alignment, putting unwanted pressure on your neck, back and shoulders or leading to tightness in undesirable places.
  • Sleeping in the wrong position: How you sleep can greatly affect the health of your spine if you are sleeping in a position that puts stress on your back. Sleeping on your side with both legs slightly bent and a pillow between your legs is one of the most comfortable positions for your spine.
  • Injuries: Beyond regular lifestyle habits, injuries are one of the primary causes of spinal problems. Whether you simply had a sharp fall or were in a car crash, the damage to your spine may be less visible than other injuries. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get it checked out, however, as spinal problems can cause issues throughout the body.

All of these causes and more can lead to spinal problems that inhibit your daily life and range of motion.

If you’re dealing with a spinal problem, call French Family Chiropractic today at (931) 919-2869 for information about how chiropractic care can help.

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