 |
|
Whole-Body Health: Stay ConnectedBy DR. Kevin Wong The concept of "pain" has confused, frustrated and fascinated human beings throughout our history. Obviously as our life spans have increased, so have the types and severity of pain that we experience. Not only can pain be an issue for people at any age, but it also can be located in any part of the body. We are a symptom-based society when it comes to pain. This means that until we feel pain or symptoms related to pain, like numbness or tingling, we don't seek treatment. Some individuals wait months or even years to deal with their pain. There is a new movement that is sweeping this great country of ours. It involves the journey you take to understand what is actually causing your pain. We no longer blindly accept it when a health care provider tells us to get a vaccination, take medication or have surgery. We live in a world where information is at the touch of our fingertips, and with it comes easier means to investigate and learn all we can about ourselves and any possible health problems. The time has come for us to take responsibility for our pain and what our treatment options are. The human body does seem complex at first glance. Yet amazingly enough, we can identify some simple relationships that allow us more clarity on how the body works and how each body part is related. Let's take a closer look. Musculoskeletal Health Starts With a Healthy Spine
Take a moment to look at your body. Quickly glance at your arms, hands, hips, legs and feet. Do you realize that you have approximately 640 muscles that are responsible for moving the 206 bones in your body? How do you get these muscles to move those bones? It has to do with the way the spinal cord and the nerves send information out to the body. It might surprise you to know that many common ailments that we experience, like headaches, lower back pain and shoulder pain, can have links to the muscles, bones and spinal nerves. The spine is made up of 29 vertebrae that are divided up by specific regions of the body: cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacrum. Think of the spine as a protective housing for your spinal cord that lives in the center of the vertebrae. At every level of the spine, nerves branch off of the spinal cord, move past the vertebrae and outward to supply the different parts of the body. Furthermore, as the nerves branch off from the spine, certain ones move out farther and farther, going all the way to the hands and feet. While a nerve is traveling, it must repeatedly pass by or around different bones. It stands to reason that the position of the bones is important. If the bones are not in correct position, or "out of alignment," the nerves will be compromised. An easy way to remember how the body works is that the vertebrae, spinal cord and nerves affect everything from your toes all the way up to your nose. As an example, migraines and other headaches can be caused when the spinal vertebrae in the neck region are misaligned. This causes pressure on the nerves as they branch off of the spinal cord and move through the vertebrae out to the muscles of the neck and head. This compromised nerve flow also affects the circulation of blood to and from the area. All of these factors play an important role in headaches. A study by Tuchin, et al., results of which were published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT), a peer-reviewed research journal, found that chiropractic care can dramatically help migraine sufferers. One in five participants reported a 90 percent reduction in migraines and half reported a significant improvement in migraine severity following two months of treatment. Maximizing Spinal Health Once we understand the role vertebrae play in allowing good communication with our spinal cord, our nerves and the rest of the body, spinal health is the logical next step. If our vertebrae are in good, proper alignment over time, then the spinal cord and nerves function without any interference. The simple idea of keeping the spine lined up as much as possible will keep our body healthy. Regular chiropractic care, massage, acupuncture, exercise and a nutritious diet are all important facets of good spinal health. The key here is to realize that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Regular practices of spinal health will not only keep you feeling great, but also will help protect you in the future from many problems that could arise. When Your Body Breaks Down Most health conditions that people have today have a spinal column or vertebral relationship. That's right! If you are reading this right now, the pain you are having (and that has brought you to a chiropractor's office) likely has a spinal relationship. You know that chiropractic can help treat low back pain. In fact, in findings from another study published in JMPT showed that patients with chronic low-back pain treated by chiropractors showed greater improvement and satisfaction at one month than patients treated by family physicians. A higher proportion of chiropractic patients reported that their low back pain was better or much better, whereas nearly one-third of medical patients reported their low back pain was worse or much worse. But it's not just back pain that's being treated; take a look at some of the other common ailments chiropractors treat in their offices:
The Chiropractic Connection Spinal alignment issues are present in almost every musculoskeletal condition. Obviously there are a few exceptions, such as cancer, broken bones, etc., but it is the case for most conditions. For many of the common ailments listed above and a multitude of others, the treatment ideas are very similar. Chiropractors analyze the bones, joints, muscles and nerve function of specific regions of the body. We decide how to best restore or realign those bones by performing adjustments using our hands. Since much of the pain you feel is due to muscle tightness or spasms that were created by the misaligned bones, adjustments really help you. Once the bone moves back into better alignment with the bones around it, the nerves have better supply to the different parts of the body, your muscles can stop being so tight and your pain level can decrease. It works so well and feels great! Your treatment usually includes home care instructions. These at-home recommendations can range from exercises to strengthen or rehab your muscles, custom-made orthotics to support your body's foundation or supplements to help you get the nutrients you need most. We also ask a lot of questions about your daily and work activities to make sure you are not aggravating your body in your daily life. It is very apparent how the human body is interconnected. The spine and the spinal cord are important in regulating how the body functions. The spinal alignment truly affects the rest of your body, so it is important to get in a regular habit of taking care of yourself and maintaining your spinal health. Kevin M. Wong, DC, a 1996 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic West in San Jose, Calif., practices full-time in Orinda, Calif. He is also an instructor for Foot Levelers, Inc. |
