Curves of the Spine and Chiropractic Health
The curves of the spine are essential for balance and spinal health. At the Chiropractic Center Marc Bony in Mataró, we explore their impact on your well-being.
Spinal Curves
When you think of your spine, do you think of a straight row of bones that goes from the base of your brain to the lower back? In reality, the spine is made up of four different curves that provide balance and flexibility to your body and help you prevent injuries.
These curvatures also allow the spine to support 10 times more weight than it could if the curvatures had disappeared. These curves are more visible when looking at an example of the spine from a lateral perspective.
These are the four types of spinal curvatures:
• Cervical Lordosis – It is an upside-down “C”, curved in shape, located at the top of the spine. This curve helps protect your head from extreme forward movements. Neck pain is usually the result of having some significant loss in the curve.
• Thoracic Kyphosis – It is a “C” – which is curved in shape at the upper and middle back, composed of 12 vertebrae.
• Lumbar Lordosis – These are the five vertebrae in the lower back that also have the shape of an upside-down “C.” This area of the spine shows a backward curvature when viewed from the side.
• Sacral Kyphosis – The sacrum is a triangular bone at the base of the spine, between the two hip bones. It is also a “C,” like the shape of a curve.
As a newborn baby develops, it has only one type of spinal curve, the “C” lordosis – which is curved in shape. As a child’s motor skills begin to develop, the baby learns to hold its head up, sit, crawl, stand, and walk – all of this causes muscle development and allows for more weight to be distributed to the spine. The development of additional spinal curves also begins.
It is important that the curves help maintain balance in your body and prevent pain and injuries. Proper weight loading requires you to bend down by bending your knees, instead of leaning with your waist, to avoid straightening your spine.
Of course, regular chiropractic check-ups and adjustments will help you maintain your spinal curves correctly. Additionally, there are specific products, such as cervical pillows, that will also help you keep the curves of the spine in place and keep you away from pain.
Marc Bony, DC
