3 Things To Know About Spinal Compression
Posted on: 1 November 2016
Your spine contains 33 bones, which are called vertebrae, and in between these bones are small gaps. Over time and with use, these gaps can close, and this can leave you with a condition called spinal compression, or subluxation. If this happens, you are likely to experience a lot of back pain and stiffness. You may also experience other issues, such as headaches. There are a number of ways to treat this problem, and visiting a chiropractor is one option.
Why This Happens
The gaps that are found between the bones in your spine are vital for your health, but they can close for several reasons. The first reason is simply from age. As you get older, gravity can cause your bones to compress, and this will cause the gaps to start shrinking. In addition, lifting heavy things can also put a lot of pressure on your back causing the gaps to close. This problem can also be the result of trauma from an accident of some kind. In any case, you should seek help if you are experiencing back pain and believe it is due to spinal compression.
Why The Gaps Are Important
The gaps between your bones are vital for several different reasons. The first reason is to keep the bones separate. If the bones rub together, you can incur pain, and this can also cause the bones to wear away. The gaps are also vital because they provide cushion for the bones, and cushion is necessary for keeping your back feeling good.
The third important purpose of these gaps is to allow your nerves to function properly. There are nerves running all throughout your body, and you can find a lot of nerves in between the vertebrae in your spine. The nerves control all the functions of your body, and when they are compressed, they can stop the nervous system from functioning well.
How Chiropractic Can Help
Visiting a chiropractor is just one option you have for treating spinal compression, and chiropractors can help in several ways. The first way is through spinal manipulation. This involves the chiropractor pressing down on your back or twisting your back in certain directions. The purpose is to release trapped gases found in your back, and this will encourage the gaps to come back. When this is done, you may hear sounds that appear as though your bones are cracking. Your bones are not really cracking though. The sounds you hear are the gases being released quickly from your back.
A second thing a chiropractor might do is stretch out your back. This is usually done on a special type of table that allows the chiropractor to pull your legs. As this is done, it will cause your back to really stretch far, and this can help encourage those gaps to come back.
In addition, your chiropractor might teach you exercises to perform at home. The purpose of these exercises is to help you stretch out your back on a daily basis. If you do them as directed each day of the week, you might experience relief from your back pain. In addition, performing exercises can also strengthen the muscles in your back, and this may also help with the pain. Finally, performing stretching exercises may help you increase your range of motion. In other words, you might be able to move more freely if you use these exercises daily to help with your back problems.
If you are currently suffering from any type of back pain, you may want to talk to a chiropractor about this, or you could visit a doctor that specializes in back pain. If you would like more information, check out a site like http://swfna.com.
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