Bad Posture = Bad Health. Spinal motion is critical for brain function and health.
The spine has a powerful relationship with the brain, spinal cord, and overall organ function. It turns out that poor posture and limited mobility does not just create pain, degeneration and dysfunction in the muscles and skeletal system. Research shows that limited spinal motion negatively impacts the brain.
Nobel Prize recipient Dr. Roger Sperry says that the spine is the motor that drives the brain. According to his research “90% of the stimulation and nutrition to the brain is generated by the movement of the spine.” Only 10% of our brain’s energy goes into thinking, metabolism, immunity, and healing. Sperry demonstrated that 90% of brain energy goes into processing and maintaining the body’s relationship with gravity.
One of the most critical areas for proper posture is in the neck. Ideally, we should have a 40-45 degree curve in our neck that many chiropractors & neurosurgeons refer to as “the arc of life.” This curve helps to protect the brain stem and the spinal canal for the spinal cord and nerves that travel to every region of our body.
Subluxation is the term for misalignments of the spine that cause compression and irritation of nerve pathways affecting organ systems of the body. Subluxations can manifest as pain, but since only a small portion of spinal nerves transmit pain sensations we may not feel pain with some misalignments. Losing the arc of life in the neck, manifesting in forward head posture, is even more common today with the frequent use of computers and smart phones. This 39-second video shows how the neck can lose the optimal posture over time without correction.
This ‘forward head posture’ can:
• add up to 30 pounds of abnormal leverage pulling the entire spine out of alignment.
• result in the loss of 30% of lung capacity according to former Univ. of California’s director of physical medicine and rehabilitation, Rene Cailliet.
• cause arthritis and other degenerative conditions.
• decrease the brain’s ability to handle other processes as it uses more energy for biomechanical and gravity problems created by this poor alignment.
Studies show that chiropractic care improves poor posture and can even enhance lung function that has been compromised due to postural deficits. As respiration improves more oxygen gets into the body. This improves oxygenation into every organ system and elevates overall function.
The keys are to stay mobile and active with exercise (flexibility and strength), practice improving your posture (especially when seated), and to use chiropractic care to help correct postural deviations, or better yet prevent them from progressing to begin with. At your next visit to the office, we can determine any specific exercises or stretches that will improve your posture.
