Signs of and Treatment for Spine Misalignment

Pain in our back, shoulders and waist is quite common, and most people accept this type of pain as a lifestyle outcome, stress or work overload, and prefer to live with it, instead of getting it treated. But the fact is that this pain arises from misalignment of your spine and you really can do a lot about it and eliminate this pain. Earth’s Wisdom today wants to throw light on this seemingly insignificant but actually very important issue.

When your spine is properly aligned, a relatively straight line of your body is maintained from your head down to your shoulders, back, hips, knees and feet. But besides maintaining a good posture, proper alignment of your spine also prevents long-term pain. On the other hand, misalignment may hamper your range of motion and cause severe issues that can impair your quality of life.

Here are a few signs that tell you that your spine is misaligned and steps you can take to rectify it.

Signs of Spine Misalignment

Your spine is made of small bones known as vertebrae arranged in a column extending from your skull’s bottom to your pelvis. It keeps your body stable and provides support to your upper body. If the spine is misaligned, other parts of the body can be affected too. Signs that indicate spine misalignment include:

• Lower back pain
• Chronic headache
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
• Knee pain
• Neck pain
• Hip pain
• Excessive fatigue
• Frequent illnesses
• Walking abnormalities due to which one shoe wears out before the other

Resulting Issues

Beyond mild pain and discomfort, spine misalignment can cause more serious issues, including:

• Joint stiffness
• Chronic pain
• Reduced range of motion
• Hunched posture
• Reduced mobility
• Sciatica
• Permanent bone and joint deformities
• Respiratory issues
• Discomfort while standing, sitting and laying down
• Broken bones, particularly in the spine

Treatment

Rectifying spine misalignment is not an instant task. It needs a long-term effort. You should first start being more and more aware of your spine misalignment and make sure you stretch your body and exercise regularly.

If your spinal issue is more severe, you may need medical care or surgery. Discuss with your doctor to check which approach is the best for you.

Stretches and Exercises

Most Americans sit for the most of their time working or for entertainment. If you’re one of them or like them, your back pain may be worsened and you may have a poor posture. Your spine alignment may also be affected by this over time. These effects can be reversed by stretching and exercises.

Walk and Stretch

Taking ‘walking breaks’ all through the day is one of the best ways to fight the negative effects of sitting all the time. Such breaks can reduce the pressure on your low back and sit bones.

Planks

According to fitness instructors, planks strengthen your core muscles in the abdomen and back, due to which there would be no unnecessary pressure on your spine.

Cat-Cow Position

Cat-cow position is a yoga position that stretches your spine and reduces pressure on shoulders and lower back.

• Keep your body balanced and parallel to the ground on your palms and knees with your spine relaxed.
• Inhale, look a bit up and drop your abdomen towards the ground so that your back will be curved downward.
• Now exhale, bring your chin towards your chest and curve your back upwards.

Repeat for a few times initially and increase the repetitions slowly.

When to Visit a Doctor?

Even after exercise and lifestyle changes, if you experience recurring pain, you should visit your doctor. Your doctor may even refer you to a chiropractor.

Even if your pain is interfering with your mobility, you should visit your doctor. They will prescribe you medical treatments and may also refer you to a physical therapist who can work with you through exercises to improve your movement and toughen your muscles.

And if you experience a loss of feeling in legs or feet, you should call a doctor immediately.

Don’t neglect any of the spine alignment symptoms and look forward to living a quality life.

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