The Importance of Protecting Your Spine

Your Spine

The spine – along with the heart and brain – is one of the most important components of a human being’s body. It is the vertebral column which houses and protects the spinal cord and spinal canal, which carries the various synapses from the brain to the other parts of the body. It is made up of 33 different vertebrae, and literally spans an individual’s body from the cervical region in the head to the pelvic region in the waist. Each section of the spine is a delicate balance of bones, nerves, ligaments, muscles, and various other components that make our lives possible. The various bones in the spine, known as vertebrae, coalesce to form a unique S shaped curve that provides the vital mechanical balance of our bodies, with the natural curve of the spine putting the least amount of stress and strain on the various joints, ligaments, and discs that comprise the spine. Each vertebrae communicates with the others via small joints on either side that only allow small movements within adjacent vertebrae, but when moved together allow large spinal movements, such bending forward to tie shoelaces. Each vertebra has its own unique system of cartilage that lubricates and absorbs shock. The inter-vertebral discs actually sit between each one of the vertebrae to separate them, acting as a cushion, with each disc composed of an outer wall of thousands of layers of fibers woven together in an intricate pattern and an inner wall that is composed of proteins which are over 80% water-based, meaning that they are very resilient to shock and compression.

Since ligaments attach to the vertebrae on all sides of the spinal column to provide a support for the spine and allow the muscles cells to attach directly, it is important that spinal ligaments be viewed in the same manner as are other ligaments in any joint; they are essential to movements, but can be strained or sprained just as any other muscle or ligament, with sudden or prolonged awkward positions causing damage. Since the muscles surrounding the spine comprise the trunk of our bodies, they help move the spine to different functional positions, but it is important to understand that they also have a stabilizing effect, with the muscles in the core of the body acting as a sort of girdle to support the spine and allow it to have a stable platform allowing for high-level activities to be performed with the outer extremities: the arms and legs. The stabilizing function of our muscles is the fundamental aspect of a healthy spine. The spine itself attaches to muscles and ligaments via various peripheral nerves that communicate with the muscles.

Pain in the Spine

There are a variety of disc problems that can arise in the back, and all of them are unique to the spine. A prolapsed disc occurs when the hole in the middle of the disc is herniated outward, thus pressing against a spinal nerve and creating pain. This is also known as a slipped or ruptured disc. If the spinal nerve happens to be compressed, it can send pain shooting down the entire length of the nerve, or just to the nerve endings. If the impact is simply to the nerve ending, an individual might feel a shooting pain in their back along the spinal column and affected disc, but if it is running down the entire length of the nerve, one would feel pain throughout the leg, hands, elbow, or other extremities, and certain positions can increase the chances of a disc slipping and rupturing.

Almost all types of spinal pain will resolve themselves within six to eight weeks provided that the individual in question allows their body sufficient time for rest, with minimal activity. Normal, daily activities can be maintained provided that the pain is not debilitating. Any extreme movements and sustained postures should be strictly avoided because they can cause subsequent episodes of spinal pain to occur, and in some cases aggravate the injury to the point where it becomes permanent or long-term.

Protecting your Spine

It is crucial that each individual care for his or her spine, in much the same way as one would the heart. Core strengthening has become one of the primary methods of rehabilitating athletes in recent years because of the fact that it develops the muscular control required by the spine for functional stability, and if any of those muscles are out of sync it can create spinal injuries. Various researches have shown that if the core muscles are sufficiently stable, it can improve the function and activity of the individual in question, with a serious reduction in risk as it refers to spinal damage. If an individual begins to experience pain in the back and simply pushes through the pain, other muscles are likely to compensate to the point where further damage is caused, which is why is why rest is so strongly recommended as soon as one suspects a spinal injury.

One of the most common causes of back pain occurs when an individual bends over and lifts an object with their back muscles, rather than their leg muscles, which directly results in the core muscles being overstrained, which in turn induces pain. One of the easiest ways to protect your spine is by ensuring that objects are always lifted with the legs, bending fully at the knees to pick up the object. In addition, since the abdominal muscles stabilize movement of the back by providing a force in the opposite direction, having a strong abdominal section can go far towards creating a more stable trunk, which can help avoid injuries in the long run. Protecting the spine is essential to the overall strength of the body, so it is important to take all necessary precautions, engage in core strengthening exercises and check in periodically with a chiropractor to ensure proper alignment.

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