3 Keys to Developing a Healthy Spine

A healthy spine means a lot more than just not having back pain or neck pain.  It also means more than not having scoliosis, arthritis, or disc problems.  Developing a healthy spine begins by understanding the three keys of strength, flexibility, and posture. Strength, flexibility, and improving your posture will go a long way towards reducing pain and improving your spine’s function.

Your spine is made up of bones (vertebrae), and spinal discs that separate each bone. If you look at someone from the side, you’ll notice that the vertebrae and discs create three distinct curves: the neck (cervical), mid-back (thoracic), and low back (lumbar). What you may not realize is that you began your life with a single curve, and the others developed as you began to crawl and walk as a child.

As a baby, you had a single c-shaped curve – perfect for optimizing growth and development in the womb. However, once you began to lift your head, your cervical (neck) curve began to develop. Not too much after that, your low back (lumbar) curve formed as you started to take your first steps and walk upright.

3 Keys to a Healthy Spine

The development of these curves is critical to posture as an adolescent and adult, and there are three key factors that support the development of healthy spinal curves:

• Strength: Strong core, shoulder, and leg muscles are essential to providing the proper support for your spine.

• Flexibility: Flexibility is necessary to maintain a full range of motion, which reduces your risk of injury.

• Posture: Strength and flexibility will help ease the stress on your back, as will focusing on the dynamics of your posture and frequently changing positions throughout the day.

Developing a healthy spine starts when we’re young, and we all know the habits and actions we take today will affect our quality of life for years to come. Set an example and encourage your children to stay active, keep an eye on their posture, and promote activities that strengthen their spine to help support the development of great posture, and a possible reduction in their likelihood of experiencing back pain.

For adults, start taking steps now to build your own strength and flexibility. There simply is no substitute for movement. Joints, muscles, and ligaments need to move. Chiropractic helps get these moving again if they are stuck, and then you have to keep moving to stay well.

Choosing a Chiropractor

A chiropractor is the perfect place to start if spinal health is a goal of yours.  While most people discover chiropractic because of pain, in most cases structure, posture, and function could be improved earlier in life to prevent problems down the road by consulting with a chiropractor.  Birth trauma, infant torticollis, youth sports, and car accidents are usually excellent reasons to begin chiropractic care.  Choose a chiropractor who understands how chiropractic adjustments impact spinal alignment and movement, recommends specific exercises to target and strengthen the most important muscles that stabilize the spine, and provides evidence-based treatment plans that will help you achieve your goals.

If you are looking for a chiropractor in Gainesville, please call me directly for a phone consultation prior to scheduling.

Kent Owens, DC

Gainesville, FL chiropractor

Science Source(s):   Three Steps to Build a Better Back. Harvard Health Publishing. 2015.