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What is the spine?
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What exactly is the spine? Your spine is made up of 24 small bones (vertebrae) that are stacked on top of each other to create the spinal column. Between each vertebra is a soft, gel-like cushion called a disc that helps absorb pressure and keeps the bones from rubbing against each other. Each vertebra is held to the others by groups of ligaments. Ligaments connect bones to bones; tendons connect muscles to bones. There are also tendons that fasten muscles to the vertebrae. The spinal column also has real joints (just like the knee or elbow or any other joints) called facet joints. The facet joints link the vertebrae together and give them the flexibility to move against each other.
Each vertebra has a hole in the center, so when they stack one on top of the other they form a hollow tube that holds and protects the entire spinal cord and its nerve roots. The spinal cord itself is a large collection of nerve tissue that carries messages from your brain to the rest of your body. In order for your body to function, you need your nerves. The spine branches off into thirty-one pairs of nerve roots. These roots exit the spine on both sides through spaces (neural foramina) between each vertebra. |
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Click on the spine for more information!
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| The "Straighten Up" Program helps to keep our spines HEALTHY!
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A Short Introduction to “Straighten Up”
By Ron Kirk MA, DC
Spearheaded by the chiropractic profession, “Straighten Up” is bold and innovative health initiative designed to empower people to improve the quality of their lives and lifestyles.
The vision driving “Straighten Up” is very simple. We envision a time when everyone will take two or three minutes every day to care for their spinal health, just as they care for their dental health. The need for spinal health promotion is very great as evidenced by the many billions of dollars spent each year related to spinal disability. Yet before “Straighten Up”, there had not been a short, simple, engaging spinal exercise program designed to promote the public’s spinal health. Click here to access the entire article.
Getting Started with “Straighten Up”
Increasingly in this technological age, individuals are experiencing greater levels of spinal disability related to stress and poor posture. Individuals commonly work and play in cramped, awkward, slouched postures. The resulting pandemic of work-related chronic spinal disorders is rapidly compromising the quality of our lives. Just as the dental profession educated and empowered the public to care for their dental health daily, the profession of chiropractic is launching an initiative to educate, empower and mobilize the public to “Straighten Up” and care for their spinal health daily.
The “Straighten Up” exercises on this web site are easily adaptable and may be used equally well as an ergonomic break or as a warm-up or cool-down before or after prolonged exercise. A broad range of prominent leaders in health care, including the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, have commended the program’s exercise module and accompanying lifestyle recommendations.
How to Begin/Simple Steps for Habituation:
1. Working with your doctor, thoroughly familiarize yourself with the “Straighten Up” program.
2. Begin to practice the activities daily in order to improve your spinal health, posture and core stabilization. (Make sure that the activities are appropriate for you and not contraindicated by disorders which prohibit exercise and movement of your spinal column and related joints.)
3. We recommend starting with the Posture Pod/Flying Friends. Perform these exercises in front of a mirror before or after you brush your teeth. The Posture Pod is fun and only takes about 30 seconds to complete. You will feel refreshed and improve your appearance and self image through consistent performance.
4. Once you are comfortable with the exercises you may share them with your family and friends. Always make sure that they check with their doctor before beginning the activities to assure that the exercises are appropriate for them. The elderly should be especially careful.
* Visit Life University's website for more details. | |
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