Your spine is the major support structure for your body, keeping you moving and protecting your spinal column, the cluster of nerves that communicate everything from your brain to the rest of your body. But how much do you really know about the anatomy of the spine and back, as well as vertebrae, and how they are supposed to interact?
Your spine is made up of 33 individual vertebrae divided into three distinct sections that reach from the base of your skull to your pelvic girdle. The vertebrae are sort of like building blocks, with the largest ones at the bottom in your lumbar curve and the smaller ones in your neck and shoulder, making up the cervical spine. The thoracic spine covers your chest and rib area.
When it is working properly, the ligaments, tendons, and muscles along the spine help it to provide the superstructure for your body. But on occasion, the bones may slide just a little bit, causing what we call a misalignment.
When Is a Spine Out of Alignment?
If you think of the spine as a series of building blocks with the largest at the bottom and the smallest at the top, the blocks should line up perfectly to form a curving structure that houses your spinal cord, that network of nerves coming out from your brain to control the rest of your body. But injuries, bad posture, muscle or ligament damage, and a host of other things can cause one or more vertebrae to shift slightly in one direction or another.
Even too much stress can cause your spine to shift out of alignment. When that happens, your spine is likely to cause pain and is more likely to incur a major injury.
Can a Chiropractor Realign Your Spine?
The Mayo Clinic defines a chiropractic adjustment as “a procedure in which trained specialists (chiropractors) use their hands or a small instrument to apply a controlled, sudden force to a spinal joint.” The goal of this force is to push or pull your vertebrae back into line.
Chiropractors can also suggest other treatments to help prevent spinal injury and misalignment. Common treatments include massage therapy, traction, and exercise to strengthen the muscles that support the spine.
What Part of the Spine Gets Injured the Most?
The most common spinal injuries in the United States are to the cervical spine, the part of your spine that includes your neck. Since 2010, almost 40 percent of spinal injuries have been caused by car accidents, and falls account for another 30 percent. Most of these injuries are whiplash-type injuries.
When a person has a cervical spine injury, the biggest concern for the patient is often alleviating the pain, but for the chiropractor, another major concern is preventing additional injury. Patients who are already suffering from a spinal injury are more likely to suffer devastating consequences if injured again. That’s because those vertebrae can cut or damage the spinal cord they protect. When that happens, a person is often paralyzed or worse. Therefore, a chiropractor wants to restore proper alignment and facilitate healing to prevent further injury.
Lumbar spine injuries are less common and usually arise from a person lifting something improperly or otherwise straining the muscles of the lower back.
Call Total Chiropractic Care with Questions About Your Spine
Make Total Chiro your first call when you aren’t sure if your back isn’t in full health and alignment or when you have back pain. Our staff can help you figure out if your back is just normal or if you are misaligned. Contact us online to get your structure back to working perfectly, or call us at (631) 447-2299.