Is Gravity Getting You Down: Extend your spine's warranty

The literal, and figurative, answer is yes!  And two minutes a day can change that.

Each of the spinal curves has a specific area that recieves most of the strain against gravity.  These are known as ‘gravitational loading bearing’ regions of your spine.  More importantly, these strain areas typically become stiff, sore and painful and develop more disc degeneration. These regions are your lower neck, between the shoulder blades and your lower back.

Much of this strain and degeneration didn’t matter too much back in the early 1900’s when the average lifespan was 48 years (1). But nowadays, we need to minimize strain and degenerative changes over time because we live an average of 82 years, long enough to develop significant degeneration.

Preventing symptoms and degeneration requires keeping your spine flexible with flexibility exercises and regular chiropractic care.  Practicing flexibility exercises can reduce degeneration by 20% to 30% (2). Imagine yourself at age 80 but doing the fun things you enjoyed when you were only 60.

We also need core strength of spinal muscles. The best strengthener is simple. Take multiple moments throughout your day to forcibly straighten up as hard and tall as you can for 5 to 60 seconds.  Try for at least 2 minutes in total in your day.  You will feel your entire core toning up including your abdominal muscles. NB: You do not need to do sit-ups. Having a strong abdomen only helps prevent lower back pain by a factor of 5%, not the 25% that was once thought and has had everyone doing abdominal exercises since the mid-80's.

Toning your core spinal muscles every day will improve your posture too!

---

References

1. http://publications.gc.ca/Collection-R/LoPBdP/BP/prb0023-

2. Jeng C, Cheng T, Kung C, Hsu H. Yoga and disc degenerative disease in cervical and lumbar spine: an MR imaging-based case control study. Eur Spine J (2011); 20:408–413.

3. Milky Way Galaxy photo: www.quora.com