What Makes a Healthy Spine So Important?
To maintain a healthy and active life requires one to have a healthy spine. Maintaining a consistent good posture is one key factor that assists the body in terms of that.
It’s important to keep in mind that the spine is responsible for supporting the body along with providing structure to the body. Without support or structure, the body will eventually fail and won’t be able to perform daily functions.
The spinal cord alone is responsible for certain reflexes where the body is responding quickly to outside stimulants (ex. Your hand touching a hot stove and quickly and immediately removing the hand from the heat and pain). Therefore, anytime the spine is misaligned, the body is at risk of losing those necessary functions.
Anytime the spine is imbalanced, some other aspect of the body runs the risk of being compromised. Typically, the immune system is hindered because of an imbalance in the spine. A compromised spine means that the Central Nervous System is compromised, and when the CNS is compromised, the necessary responses regarding the immune system of the body are challenged.
The spinal cord houses very important nerves that directly communicate with the brain, being sure the rest of the body understands what to do and how to move.
Balance can also be affected when the spine is in a vulnerable position. Every movement that the body makes is coming from the connection of the spinal cord and the brain, minus those reflexes solely stemming from the spinal cord.
What is Good Posture?
First, let’s define posture. Posture is defined as the way you hold your body not only when standing but lying down and sitting also. In every position, it’s very important to learn how to practice good posture.
When practicing good posture, you place less of a strain upon your back due to focusing on maintaining the position that keeps everything within its proper alignment.
A neutral spinal position is the only position that is beneficial to the health of the spine. Any other position brings more strain, causes further back issues and can create future issues with the curvature of the spine.
Good posture is important because it leads to healthy spines and long-term success overall in terms of the body.
Four Things That Good Posture Can Do for The Body:
- Prevent muscle pain and backache
- Enables proper functioning of the muscles due to the proper alignment of all parts of the back
- Helps in assisting other parts of the body from wearing and tearing by holding up the body providing the proper structure and support (ex. Knees)
- Avoids curvature issues by preventing the spine from becoming accustomed to and/or fixed in any position that is abnormal and can be harmful to the health of the spine.
How Do I Know My Spine is Out of Alignment?
There are signs you can be mindful of that will help you in knowing whether an adjustment is what you need. When the spine is out of alignment there are cases where once adjustment is all a patient may need, and in average situations, a few visits usually do the trick.
A chiropractor can help you on your journey to a healthy spine whether it’s a massage you desire, spinal manipulation, spinal mobilization, or physical therapy; the main goal and the desire that we have for you is that you leave pain free and enjoy living with a healthy back.
Three Signs of a Misaligned Spine
1) Range of motion decreases
In terms of the head, neck, shoulders, and hips, if you are unable to move your head and neck without a struggle and pain; it may be time for an adjustment.
The hips along with the neck are central points that can generally aid in helping you better know what’s going on with your spine. A loss of mobility and an increase of stiffness and unaddressed pains and aches can symbolize a need for an adjustment.
2) You Keep Getting Sick
Because the CNS is made up of the spinal cord and the brain, when the spine is out of its proper position, the functioning it provides for the rest of the body is altered.
The immune system responses lack when the spine is being challenged, seeing that the nerves that are being housed are unable to receive the proper commands from the brain to then go throughout the body. (Ex. The body requires certain signaling of blood cells to respond and fight against the common cold, but because those nerves are compromised, the body won’t receive the warnings and signals, therefore disabling the immune system to fully operate and function as highly as it should).
3) Chronic Fatigue
The level of tiredness we experience from day to day can stem from the pain our bodies sometimes deal with. It takes work for the body to fight off the pain it experiences especially pain that affects the whole body.
In some cases, the reason behind fatigue is indeed the need for an adjustment to the spine. If you’re feeling rather fatigued and you’re also experiencing specifically pain in the neck, back or shoulder area; it could be beneficial for you to visit your local chiropractor and talk business.
Conclusion
Remember that visiting your local chiropractor can and will assist you in better living a life free of abnormal curvatures within the spine. Further enabling your health to improve, and your body will experience more flexibility, coordination, better responses, and your balance will be sure to improve.
