Why Curves Matter in Zionsville

Did you know that curved structures are some of the strongest and most stable structures on the planet?

The Science Behind Curved Structures

Think of some of the strongest structures that you see in everyday life in Zionsville. Bridges, buildings, and tunnels are a few great examples. They are able to be HUGE but still maintain their structure and stability over long periods of time.

Curves allow these structures to distribute forces throughout the length so that instead of having all the pressure at one point, the pressure is evenly distributed over a greater area.

The Importance of Spinal Curves in Zionsville

The spine consists of 24 bones that have a soft cushion between them (intervertebral disc) and nerve roots coming out each side between the bones. When spinal curves are not maintained, abnormal stress is put on these structures and we start to experience dysfunction and degeneration or early signs of "wear and tear".

By having curves, the spine acts as a natural spring that allows our bodies to withstand the forces of compression without damaging the softer structures between the bones. You can surely imagine keeping a spring-loaded over a long period of time. After a while, it will start to lose the “spring” function. This same process happens if our spine does not work as efficiently and we start to wear down the soft disc between all of the bones which causes degeneration and decay of the vertebrae and discs.

The spine has three main curves that help maintain stability and the structure of your body. The three different curves are found in the neck, mid and lower back. These curves are essential to help us function well and help distribute the compression forces (gravity, sitting, lifting, running, etc.) that we have to deal with every day.

A great example of how restoring proper spinal curves can slow degeneration, and improved function was shown in a case study published in 2017. In this study, a patient presented to a manual therapist with general neck pain and radiculopathy (nerve pain). It was apparent with an x-ray that the patient had lost the curve in the neck and the head was positioned forward (similar to 'text neck"). After working with the patient for 5 months, adjusting the spine, incorporating exercises, and neck traction the patient was able to avoid surgery and improve their symptoms. The patient was able to remold the curve in their neck, improve the range of motion, and decrease the amount of pain.

Increase function = decrease pain

The goal with corrective chiropractic care is to help remold and stabilize the curves so the pressure is taken off the soft structures which allows them to FUNCTION properly. With proper function, there is a great likelihood that the pain will also start to decrease because there is no longer abnormal repeated pressure being put on the body, and the spine can again function more like it was intended.

At Foundations Chiropractic, we take the health of your spine seriously because we understand how important the spine is in supporting the function of your nervous system. The nervous system is in charge of all of the other functions of our body and is what allows your brain and body to communicate with each other. We know that a healthy spine and nervous system is absolutely foundational to the rest of your health.

Resources

• https://idealspine.com/why-is-your-spine-s-shaped-the-importance-of-spinal-curves/
• https://mayfieldclinic.com/pe-posture.htm
• http://www.mayfieldclinic.com/mc_pr/pr_16oct28.htm
• https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpts/29/8/29_jpts-2017-097/_pdf