“Thanks to my spine for all the support, together we’ve grown to new heights” - everyone, everywhere, to their spines, daily
The most common conditions I see in my practice are issues relating to the spine. Be it neck pain due to stress, headaches due to tight muscles, lower back pain or even sciatica – spine pain is more common than you think!
So with that in mind, I’d like to share some of the most interesting spine facts:
The spine has 5 sections, cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal – resulting in a total of 33 vertebrae (spine bones).
Humans and giraffes have the same number of vertebrae – which is crazy considering how much longer their necks are!
Your first vertebra, otherwise known as C1 – has a special name. It is named after the Greek God, Atlas – as mythology states he held the entire world on his shoulders.
Between each vertebra is a little cushion like structure known as an intervertebral disc. This provides support and stabilisation. It also aids for great flexibility of the spine.
We are taller in the morning than in the evening. This is because when we sleep at night, our discs take in more water – resulting in them being thicker and us being taller. Over the course of the day, gravity and the weight of our bodies causes these discs to squish out small amounts of water – leading to slightly thinner discs, and us being shorter.
Your spinal cord is part of your central nervous system. This allows us to walk, feel, move and so much more.
According to WHO (World Health Organization) – the leading cause of spinal cord injuries is motor vehicle accidents.
Well, just how common is back pain? One study found that the prevalence of low back pain has reached epidemic proportions! Up to 7 out of 10 people will experience back pain in their lifetime.
It's crazy to think about how many structures make up the spine as a whole - and each of these can become irritated and need a little bit of help from time to time. Next time you're experiencing back pain, consider visiting a chiropractor!
Chiropractors study the spine (and the rest of the body) extensively - and can offer a wide variety of treatments to help you achieve a pain-free lifestyle!
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