Got Curves? - Awaken Chiropractic & Sports Medicine

Got Curves? This saying may mean more to your health than you know. Did you know your spine is supposed to have curves in it? Do you know what happens to your body if you lose the curve in your neck or anywhere else in your spine? Let’s find out together.

Why Curves?

Why is having good spinal health important to your overall health? Should we care if our spine should be aligned? The answer is simple, it houses your spinal cord inside it and if the spine has stress in it, it can have long term and un-reversible consequences on your overall health. If you have stress in your nervous system, then the nerves going to the rest of your body are also effected.

In fact, a study published in 2011 showed that a loss of a lordotic (normal) curve in the cervical (neck) region of the body negatively impacted the overall health of elderly populations. According to the study, it was associated with “impaired physical performance, health, and quality of life”. This actually shows that having curved in your spine are good for your health! This does not include a scoliosis in your spine but looking at the spine from the side and having 3 rolling curves in each region of the spine.

What can we do about it?

If having a loss of curve in your neck is bad for your health, how do we fix it? It starts with maintaining good spinal hygiene. Taking care of your spine through the years is essential to good spinal hygiene, not just the last few years of your life before you’re elderly. The same concept occurs with your teeth. If you only brush your teeth the last half of your life, what kind of shape are they going to be in? Probably not good shape.

On top of avoiding any major traumas to your spine if you can help it, try these things to help!

Yoga

Yoga is great for the body and mind. Not only does it work like meditation to help you clear your mind but helps you stay limber and strong. Imbalances along the spine due to muscle tightness can amplify over the years and lead to early degeneration. Staying limber and moving the spine will help with these imbalances and allow the spine to move like it should.

Chiropractic

As a chiropractor, I know the importance of adjusting the spine to help relieve stress off it. Doing this will allow each vertebra to move independently and how they were designed to move. This is the best way to ensure your spine moves how it should and has the curves in it that are needed for every day life! Go see your local chiropractor if you are not near Parker, CO which is where my office is. If you are near my office, click on the link below for a new patient special to see how the curves in your back are and if you are staying healthy!