Dr. Tracie M. Cusimano
Huntington Beach Chiropractor

3 Keys to a Healthy Spine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Dr. Tracie M. Cusimano

 

It is easier to stay healthy than it is to get well!

 

Keeping the body strong, flexible and aligned is the key to a healthy spine.This is for those of you that have developed lower back pain for no reason at all. You may be puzzled when trying to think of the reason why your pain started. One day you were fine and the next day you are in pain thinking why did this happen to me. You are not alone. In fact, many of my patients with lower back pain are without some type of initiating event. The three keys to a healthy spine need to be investigated further to see if one or more are the cause of your back pain. In addition, keeping your spine healthy will decrease the chance of having another episode of back pain in the future.

 

The first key is alignment. Proper alignment is essential for spine health. Altered alignment of the spine can lead to irritation of the spinal nerves. An irritated spinal nerve can result in symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, muscle spasm and altered physiologic function. In additions to the symptoms, prolonged altered alignment can lead to uneven wear and tear on the spine, resulting in degenerative joint disease. The main focus of a chiropractic adjustment is to restore normal alignment and movement of the spine.

 

The second key is flexibility. The spine needs to be supported by flexible muscles. The normal structure of the lumbar spine includes a curve called a lordosis. Problems can result if the curve is increased or decreased beyond its normal range. Flexible muscles help normalize this curve. Consequently, excessive stress is placed upon the spine when tight muscles pull it beyond its normal range. Some of the muscles that contribute to the lumbar lordosis include the hamstrings and rectus femoris.

 

The third key is strength. A strong core stabilizes the spine. Weakness, like tight muscles, can result in excessive stress being placed upon the spine. Some of the core muscles include the abdominal muscles, errector spinae and iliopsoas.