A Healthy Spine Helps Keep You Healthy

Why is a healthy spine important to your health

The function of the spine is movement, support, protection, coordination and control.  The spine allows us to move like we do. It allows support for us to stand up, bend over, walk, etc. Your spinal column is the structure that is in the middle of it all. Support for the head is paramount because the neck is involved in quick coordinating movements for survival and protection and in general daily activities. The shoulder and pelvic girdles are also attached and supported. All these structures are related to the spine.

Housed within the spine is the spinal cord and spinal nerves. Protection of the central nervous system allows it to function optimally via the spinal cord which controls the function of every single cell, tissue and organ in the body.

Therefore a healthy spine, coupled with a healthy nervous system, is crucial in terms of maintaining whole body health. Any alteration of spinal structure or function may cause irritation of the central nervous system or the outer spinal nerves that are protected as they travel to organs or muscles. This alteration is known to chiropractors as “vertebral subluxation”.

Preventing any alteration of spinal structure or function can play a very important role to your overall health. Ways to protect your spine from alterations of spinal structure and function are:

1. Maintaining a proper posture
2. Drinking plenty of water to hydrate the joints of the spine
3. Exercise regularly to keep motion in the spine
4. Receive adjustments from a chiropractor regularly to keep every joint moving properly.