Understanding the connection between spinal adjustment and body functions can help you make the right choices for a healthy future. The beautiful weather this spring make it easy to want to get outside and get moving – despite a bad back. Don’t self-medicate or avoid activity due to chronic pain. In order to understand the connection, let’s look at the structure of the spine.
Your spinal column, made up of 24 independent vertebrae, is what allows your body to move, twist, and bend through every motion of your busy day. The seven cervical, or neck, vertebrae are responsible for the support of the skull and rotation of the neck. Next are the thoracic vertebrae, 12 total, where the ribs attach to the spice. Below this set are the five lumbar; commonly referred to as your lower back. The lumbar supports most of your body’s weight and connects to the pelvis. From there the spine end with a culmination of tiny vertebrae that developed during the fetal stage called the sacrum – or “tailbone.”In addition to structural support, it also encases and helps protect the delicate central nervous system that controls and coordinates every muscle, tissue and organ of the body.
This is why we at the Back Pain Clinic believe the first step to an active lifestyle is a properly functioning spine. When two or more vertebrae aren’t functioning together properly, it is what many chiropractors refer to as a subluxation or a misalignment. These joint dysfunctions cause you to experience pain, discomfort, decreased mobility, or many other symptoms and conditions. If not properly addressed, joint dysfunctions often go unnoticed and can cause miscommunication between your brain and body.
If the spine is the communication center, then anyone who has experienced lower back pain knows that it’s a mayday call for help. By the time, pain and symptoms appear the problem may have been present for months, even years. The great news is that you can help prevent these types of symptoms and conditions with routine chiropractic care.
Don’t ignore pain any longer. Make an appointment to see Dr. Fast; let his years of experience and training lead to a proper diagnosis. Get back to leading an active life – fast!