Your spine is made to move

It is a conglomerate of spinal motion segments, each with a subtly different role in aiding your body’s movement. But the important part is that your spine is made for movement, something for which it rarely gets enough credit. Yes it is a stabilizing force, but that stabilization is essential to life- the lumbar vertebrae work to support the weight of the upper body and prevent excessive movement from causing injury. Likewise, the cervical vertebrae provide for range of motion in the head and neck, while stabilizing the weight of the head in relation to the rest of the body. The thoracic vertebrae, for their part, are important influencers in the upper body’s range of motion, including: flexion, extension and rotation. 

 

Inhibited range of motion in the spine is problematic

When considering the spine’s role in movement, you begin to see how many problems can accumulate when range of motion is limited. Misalignment of the vertebrae is a primary contributor to dysfunction, including:

• Uneven development of the musculature
• Uneven weight distribution causes undue stress to one side of the body versus the other
• Interferes with fluid functioning of the nervous system
• Contributes to painful spinal disorders such as herniated discs 

Musculoskeletal signs that point toward misalignment

At our office in Alameda, we determine whether spinal misalignment is holding you back from achieving your full health potential. Signs include:

• Comparative length of your legs: misalignment in the sacroiliac and lumbar joints can actually lengthen one leg in relation to the other. 
• Postural deficiency: our assessments include postural analysis that helps us determine whether your posture is suffering because of misalignment or vice versa. 
• Restricted range of motion: this is a key indicator of spinal misalignment. If you feel tightness or pain when you pass a certain movement threshold, that is your body telling you it is inhibited in its range of motion. In this scenario, further movement could cause injury. 

Detecting and correcting misalignment in Alameda

We perform a full physical assessment to determine where your spine is misaligned. If it is causing problems, we set a course for correction that utilizes gentle spinal adjustments to restore spinal alignment, improve range of motion and boost circulation. Don’t let misalignment linger if you suspect it is detracting from your well being! Give our office in Alameda a call to schedule an appointment and reap the benefits of a properly-aligned spine today.