Understanding Spine And Auto Injuries

ByJuanita Swindell

One of the biggest complaints by drivers every year revolves around having to wear their seatbelts while driving. Those who find them too constricting or annoying simply do not understand their importance, nor why they have to wear them under law. Unfortunately that complaint is shared by way too many and because they refuse to use them, hundreds of thousands of drivers wind up with serious injuries from auto accidents, some that they will have to live with the rest of their lives.

Perhaps understanding the spine and how fragile it is, especially while driving, may help change people's attitude towards the safety devices designed to protect it.

The Fragile Construct

While it is a miracle of nature of how something so small, so fragile in appearance can support the weight of our bodies, let alone preserve movement by it through its network of vertebrae, nerves and discs. Despite its fragile appearance, the spine is one of the strongest parts of our bodies. But even so, it can only take so much punishment before serious damage can occur and understanding the spine and how it is put together might just give you a clue as to why it is so important to your health and life.

The spine consists of vertebrae, tiny bone joints that allow us to bend, twist and move our entire body. Between each vertebra are resilient discs that cushion the vertebrae, and keep them all in place so that nothing goes awry and the framework remains intact. Surrounding and supporting this entire delicate frame are muscles and ligaments that add tensile strength to the structure, as well as nerves that send messages from the brain to create that movement. If any one part of this ever gets damaged, the entire construct can be put into jeopardy and lead to life changing injuries that will sideline even the strongest individual.

Risk During An Auto Accident

When you are driving or even riding as a passenger, the vehicle you are in has a greater mass than your body. Its forward motion will not affect you until it stops and even normal braking can cause your body to shift forward in its seat. If your vehicle is involved in an auto accident, that forward momentum is much greater as the mass of the vehicle propels your body forward violently by the sudden stop. The greater the speed, the greater the momentum and the greater the forces that will wreak havoc on your body as it is involuntarily shifted forward. Safety devices such as seat belts and air bags can arrest some of that momentum and absorb some of the force, but it will still take its toll on your body.

The first part of your body to suffer from that sudden forward motion is often the neck, as your head snaps forward and back against the seat belt or air bag. That force can cause whiplash, which damages the soft tissues that support the neck, as well as damaging the fragile cervical spine area. Being one of the most fragile parts of the spine, damage here can be lasting and cause chronic neck pain until it heals. Too much force can cause paralysis, either through permanent damage or inflammation of the tissues and discs.

Back Injuries

That forward momentum does not end with the neck. An auto accident will propel your body forward, in spite of restraints and after the neck is thrown, the rest of the body will follow. The middle area of the spine is the strongest, leaving the neck and the lower back, the lumbar, as the weakest. Potential injuries include damage to the lumbar spine area, forcing discs out of place, tearing ligaments or straining the muscles throughout that area. All of this can lead to life long pain, especially from a herniated disc or nerve damage.

Understanding the spine and how each part can be affected should give you a better understanding of the importance for those safety devices. The more devices that are in play, the less your forward momentum would be, leaving behind far less life threatening injuries to the spine.

Want more information on how understanding the spine can reinforce the need for better protection of it from damage? The experts at the Chiropractic Center of Lakeland can show you how keeping fit and following simple safety guidelines can lead to lifelong good health, call them today. Also check out our new page on Understanding the Spine.

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Best Ways In Understanding Chiropractors

ByJon J Nestorovic

Chiropractors are alternative medicine doctors that focus on preventing musculoskletal dysfunction including spine and other bone structure in the body that generally affects the well-being of a person through the nervous system. Their methods of treatment include management of the spinal column, soft tissues, joints, and manual therapy about family, health, lifestyle guidance and exercise.

Early philosophy of chiropractic originated from rationalism, vitality, and spiritual motivation. This philosophy differentiates it from the scientific methods of medicine. Although some chiropractors have an extensive mixture of ideas that they want to incorporate scientific research and method to chiropractic, they all share the same belief that the spinal column and physical strength of a person are interceded by the nervous system. Here are some viewpoints, which are incorporated in their philosophy:

1. Homeostasis
Chiropractics believe that the body has the ability to heal itself. They also believe that the inborn power of the brain is an image of homeostasis.

2. Conservatism
Conservatism includes non-invasive medical procedures such as surgery in order to heal one's body. This is one of the practices in chiropractic to lessen the side effects of taking medications and the complications of different methods used in medicine.

3. Holism
They believe that the surroundings affect the health of a person. On the other hand, they believe that through aligning the vertebral column prevents diseases and heals any present ailment.

4. Traditional
Traditional chiropractic practices focus on a person's point of view and form of treatment. While the mixers, chiropractic doctors who try to merge the importance of using scientific basis in their practice, focus on the patient himself and the condition of the patient.

Most chiropractors point out that conservative form of treatment can heal any neuromusculoskeletal disease. This means that any disease by the body in relation to the nervous system can be healed without any invasive medical procedure. The World Health Organization recognized chiropractic as a complementary and alternative medicine as well as prohibiting their members to prescribe any medication or perform any surgical procedure.

Up to this date, chiropractic practices are still controversial. Its practices are believed to be pseudoscientific in nature, with no scientific research and basis. Medical professionals believe that the manipulation of the spinal column, if not properly or carefully handled, may result to serious physical state and life-threatening condition. However, experienced chiropractors practice safety regarding vertebral manipulation.

With the controversy that chiropractic is facing, more people are still engaging in this alternative medicine, especially those who suffer neck and lower back pains. Nevertheless, in most developed countries, chiropractic is considered as the third leading health profession, aside from dentistry and medicine.

All that being said, although these may seem obvious to you, some people will try to convince you otherwise. If you have any questions about chiropractics, the best thing to do is to seek the help of a professional Chiropractic Physician; Chiropractor Missisauga can be a great place to start.

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Understanding The Various Inversion Table Benefits

ByKatie Davis

More and more people today are recognizing that an inversion table benefits not just the spine. In addition to alleviating back pain, this innovative contraption also helps stretch and relax muscles, boosts blood circulation, reduces stress and tension and helps maintain an overall sense of well-being.

How an Inversion Table Benefits the Back

Over time, gravity draws the body downwards and contributes to a range of problems from prolapsed organs and reduced distance between the spinal discs to sluggish circulation, back pain and inefficient general body functions.

Inversion therapy tables work to counter the adverse effects of gravity. Spending time in an upside down position offers a natural type of traction that allows discs to recover lost moisture and increases the distance between the discs. This relieves the pressure on the discs and nerve roots and reduces the stress on the muscle groups that support the spine resulting in pain relief in the upper and lower back as well as the neck and shoulders.

The Many Other Benefits of Using an Inversion Table

Inversion therapy tables don't just provide relief from pain. They also help boost circulation of blood, which improves the oxygen supply throughout the body and help stretch out the muscles in the leg and back, making them more supple and flexible and less prone to injury.

The upside down position encourages blood flow to the brain, boosting its oxygen supply, which enhances mental performance and helps fight fatigue. Hanging upside down also helps people who have varicose veins as it encourages blood drainage from the legs.

Inversion table benefits also include an improvement in posture and reduction in stress levels. Additionally, there are several exercises that can be done using an inversion therapy table to build muscles, strengthen the abdominals, improve overall flexibility and tone the hamstrings and the glutes.

When using an inversion table, it is crucial to remember to start slowly and increase the incline and the duration very, very gradually in order to maximize the inversion benefits while decreasing the likelihood of injury.

You should always check with your primary care doctor prior to staring inversion table therapy or any exercise program. There are several contraindications and if you suffer from any of them you should not use an inversion therapy table without the consent of your doctor.

Finally, when looking at inversion therapy tables, know that all tables are not created equal. Spend some time researching brands and models to find the one best suited for you.

Make sure you review our inversion table ratings before selecting your table. We highly recommend the Life Gear 75112 inversion table for your inversion needs.

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