Does Spine Health Affect the Rest of Your Body? 

When it comes to your health, you may not be considering your spine. In fact, the spine is actually one of the most important parts of the body and extremely important regarding optimal health. The condition of your spine can positively or adversely affect your overall health. Understanding spine health and why that affects the rest of your body, is essential for your quality of life.

Why is the Spine so Important?  

Also known as the backbone, the spine is the central support structure of your body, connecting multiple parts of the musculoskeletal system. Separated in 4 areas: the cervical spine, the thoracic spine, the lumbar spine, and the coccyx and sacrum, the spine enables your body to engage in a variety of movements, including walking, bending over, and even simple things like using a fork. From standing, sitting, and spinning, your spine is the focal point of your body’s capabilities. 

Along with movement, your spine is also a major player in the central nervous system. It creates a seamless connection between the brain and spinal cord, enabling the brain to send clear information to the spinal cord to coordinate movement. For the body to move, act, and respond properly, a healthy spine is needed. 

What are the Main Areas Affected by the Spine?

 While the spine is the foundation of the body’s overall movement and activity, there are a few areas that are most directly impacted when there are issues with it. These areas include the body’s flexibility/mobility, the back, and mental health. 

Flexibility/Mobility

The proper alignment of the spine gives it both mobility and flexibility. When the spine is able to move well, it gives you the ability to perform everyday activities. In fact, basic daily activities, such as brushing teeth, walking outside, driving a car, and more, are dependent on the health of your spine. 

 Back

A healthy spine plays an important part in the health of the back. When the back has pain it will affect everyday tasks and can even place an undue burden on other areas of the body to compensate. Many strive to live an active life, however, maintaining poor posture or not sleeping on a supportive mattress could result in acute pain and even spine problems. As part of the musculoskeletal system, the spine supports the back and is essential for ensuring the whole body is functioning properly. In order to keep the back healthy, proper form in any physical activity is needed, as well as reducing any excess weight, an adequate sleep pattern, and healthy eating.

Mental Health

The spine doesn’t just affect your physical health and abilities. It also contributes to your mental health. This is due to the fact that the spine is a component of the central nervous system, protecting the spinal cord. When the spine is not in alignment, some issues that can occur are hormonal imbalances, headaches, dizziness, migraines, and more. These issues can cause difficulty with emotions, changes in mood, sleep deprivation, and can affect the way you deal with stressful situations. With an aligned spine, you are creating a healthy connection between the body and the mind, improving your mental health and giving you relaxed emotions. 

How Can I Help the Health of my Spine?

Strengthening your back can help your spine and can prevent back problems. With regular back-strengthening exercises, you can maintain the health of your spine and prevent a number of physical and mental health issues. Perform exercises such as planks and low-impact aerobics while keeping your back straight and your knees bent is an excellent place to begin. You may also want to lose weight in order to reduce the strain on your spine. And of course, keeping an eye on your posture is also a good idea for spine health. 

If you are experiencing spine pain, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! Or, if you have questions about spine surgical procedures, we are here to help. Contact our office for a consultation or call us at 973-971-3500 today.