What Are The Functions Of Your Spine?

How well do you know your spine? If you can sit upright, bend, stand up, twist, etc. effortlessly, you probably have a spine that works well. The Spine, or backbone, is the body’s central support structure. It not only gives the body a structure but also allows the body to move freely and bend with flexibility. The spine is designed to protect the spinal cord. 

Our spine is made up of a chain of bones. The elastic ligaments and spinal disks make it flexible. Back injuries and several spinal cord conditions can damage the spine and cause back pain. The functions performed by it makes it one of the most important parts of the body. There are three major functions of a spine. They are: 

1. Protect spinal cord and surrounding areas 

The body communicates with the brain through the spinal cord. Signals are sent back and forth between brain and body allowing us to function properly. The spine acts as an armour to protect the structure of the body that controls everything that we do. 

If the vertebrae go out of alignment, they put pressure on the spinal nerves too. This can, in turn, cause dysfunction and pain. This is the reason why it is important to keep the spine in proper alignment, which is done by chiropractors. 

• Provide structural support and balance in order to maintain an upright posture

Spinal bones allow the body to stand straight and upright. The spine provides the foundation for the posture and the vertebrae ensure that your body is in balance and is maintaining an upright posture. 

• Make flexible motions possible

Bending, twisting, moving, turning, and other movements the body is capable of doing is made possible by a well-functioning spine. Without a proper spine, our body will be stiff like a stick 

The spine is made of 24 small bones called vertebrae that are placed on top of each other to form a spinal column. It also has cushioning disks, nerves, joints, ligaments and muscles in the structure. Although strong, this is also a sensitive area that is prone to injury, arthritis, herniated disks, pinched nerves and other problems if not taken proper care of. 

Don’t wait for back pain to show up to start taking care of your spine. Being one of the most important parts of our body, it is crucial to get your spinal column checked by a chiropractor regularly.