Movement is Life

What is the difference between a healthy spine and a sick degenerated one?

One word. Motion...

We have talked about the spine before in this blog and how it is important because it protects your nervous system (Brain, Spinal Cord). But what keeps it healthy?

You have 24 bones in your spine called vertebrae which have to do 3 main functions.

1. Support your body and provide attachments for muscles, ligaments, etc.

2. Protect your spinal cord from trauma.

3. Allow movement (bending, twisting, turning, etc).

Motion in the spine is very important because it allows us to exercise and get through our day. Motion in the spine also stimulates the nervous system by providing mechanoreception and proprioception. Now I know those are big words, but they mean that motion is actually healthy for your brain and your spine. You need to move it or lose it!

Think about it this way. Your teeth are just small bones and you probably brush them everyday, floss occasionally, and visit the dentist to have checkups. Why do people do this? Most people would say they do because they only have 1 set of teeth and the do not want to lose them!

But you only have 1 spine...

Do you brush (spinal hygiene) your spine each day? This would be exercise, core strength, stretching, range of motion, etc. Do you visit the spinal dentist? Huh hmmmn, this is called a Chiropractor! More importantly, do you only visit a chiropractor when your spine hurts ( kind of like a cavity) or do you have regular checkups and visits to keep it functioning normal?

Monthly or bi-monthly adjustments can be like spinal cleanings.

Adjustments are very comfortable and in our office we use instrument assisted adjusting which is on the cutting edge and very comfortable!

So take care of your spine. Think of it as spinal hygiene just like dental hygiene. Brush everyday (stretch, range of motion, exercise) and get a checkup with the dentist (chiropractor). If your spine is working correctly then maintenance visits are necessary. If you have poor curvatures and degeneration then corrective care can help.

If you need more information on chiropractic visit. www.drbradywilliams.com