When your spine is properly aligned, your body maintains a reasonably straight line from your head to your shoulders and back, as well as your hips, knees, and feet.
Proper alignment can aid in the prevention of long-term pain in addition to maintaining a healthy posture. Misalignment can limit your range of motion, put more pressure on your joints and hence accelerate the wear and tear process in the affected area. Often, a spinal misalignment can cause discomfort and other serious problems which can have a negative impact on your quality of life.
Keep reading to find out exactly why having proper spinal alignment is so important.
Spinal Health: Understanding the Musculoskeletal System
Without first learning the basics of the spine’s anatomical structure, it’s impossible to understand what causes spinal misalignment.
Spine
A healthy, normal spine has three segments that are connected via spinal bones called vertebrae:
- Cervical (near the neck)
- Thoracic (mid-spine)
- Lumbar (near the hips)
The sacrum, which connects the pelvic girdle to the lumbar region of the spine, lies at the end of the spinal column. The spine ends here and the hips begin in this region.
The atlas (C1) vertebra links with the base of the skull at the top of the spinal column. The atlas and the lumbosacral joint (L5) should be precisely aligned with no apparent curvatures when viewed from the back.
Intervertebral Discs (IVDs)
An intervertebral disc separates one vertebra from the next. The intervertebral discs serve as shock absorbers and the “glue” that holds the spine together.
When these discs shift out of place or degenerate, it can lead to severe pain and possibly spinal misalignments.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) acts as a buffer between the vertebrae and lubricates the discs. CSF provides mechanical and immunological protection to our brains and spines.
Curvature of the Spine
A healthy spine should have a moderate curve when viewed from the side, allowing the intervertebral discs to absorb shocks. From the back, however, the spine should appear aligned in a straight downward path.
When the spine’s normal curvature is altered, serious chronic pain, joint stiffness and mobility problems can occur across your entire body. Certain factors can cause an increased risk for abnormal curvature, including poor posture and repetitive movement or lack of movement.
A misaligned spine that curves too far in any direction necessitates medical treatment and diagnosis by trained and specialised healthcare providers, such as a chiropractor or physical therapist. That said, some severe cases of spinal misalignments can only be treated by spinal surgery.
What is the Function of the Spine?
The spine, when properly aligned, serves as the structural cornerstone of our bodies and help distributing our weight evenly.
The spine permits us to stand upright and connects all of our other extremities and bones, such as the pelvis, shoulders, arms, and legs. We can readily bend and twist because the spine is a flexible and elastic structure.
The spine also protects the spinal cord, which is a crucial , if not most important role.
The spinal cord, a crucial part of the central nervous system (CNS), is a long, thin tube of nerve tissue that connects the brainstem to the lower lumbar region. The CNS controls everything in the body, from the brain to the nerves, and acts as a communication centre between the brain and the rest of the body.
So, when your spine is misaligned, the communication is blocked and thus increases the chances of chronic pain and conditions as well as the dysfunction of the area where the nerve roots feed.
As a result, the spinal cord is required for human survival. A healthy spine is one that is both strong and flexible, able to support our limbs, heads, and core while withstanding the weight of our bodies and skulls.
In other words, a body without a strong and healthy spine would be unable to function and would collapse on the ground, motionless.
Common Signs of Spine Misalignment
Knowing how to treat a misaligned spine begins with identifying the symptoms and correcting the issue as early as possible.
Lower back pain is often one of the common tell-tale signs that you are suffering from spine misalignment. You may also exihibit some of these signs:
- chronic headaches or migraines
- neck pain
- knee pain
- hip pain
- frequent illnesses
- excessive fatigue
- numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
- one shoe that wears out before the other, due to walking abnormalities
Consider seeking out chiropractic care if you are facing these issues.
Causes of Spinal Misalignment
Most commonly, a misaligned spine stems from a lifetime’s worth of minor recurrent stress and trauma, such as slips, falls, sports injuries, and other mishaps.
Spinal misalignment can also be caused by a variety of other factors:
- Severe obesity
- Osteoporosis
- Spinal inflammation
- Chronic slouching or poor posture
- Irregular growth of the vertebrae in utero
- Car accident
Correcting Spinal Misalignments with Elite Spine Centres
Looking to relieve pain and get your spine aligned?
Elite Spine Centres is the place to go if you’re seeking high-quality chiropractic care. Our highly trained chiropractors utilise a variety of modern chiropractic modalities that can help you get rid of the pain, stiffness, and tingling that come with spinal misalignment.
However, we don’t just want to get rid of your pain. Instead, we customise a holistic treatment plan which include some rehabilitation exercises that allows you to retain long-lasting results and optimise your health, possibly preventing the reoccurrence of spine misalignment.