The Misaligned Spine and What to do About It

The goal is to keep your spine aligned properly which simply means that your body maintains a relatively straight line from your head down to your shoulders and back, as well as your hips, knees, and feet. Having proper alignment goes way beyond maintaining good posture and “sitting up straight”. It is a sure way of preventing long-term pain in the future as your body gets older. Having a misalignment of the spine can also impact your range of motion, and severe issues can affect your quality of life.

The body the majority of the time does not give a sudden warning that your spine is out of alignment it usually is slow and silent until the one day you start to notice pain around several joints in the body. You can do a few simple exercises to strengthen the muscles that support the structure of the body to assist with a healthy alignment. Chiropractic Clinics of South Florida can not stress enough how important it is to have continuous chiropractic care to assist with keeping your body alignment intact.

Your spine is a column of bones, called vertebrae, that extends from the base of your skull to the pelvis. It is the stability and support for your body. Although the spine does stabilize the back is has other responsibilities as well. It assists with distributing weight properly, protects the spinal cord, supports the head, and provides attachment for the ribs. There are many signs and symptoms that are related to a misaligned spine such as:

• Chronic headaches
• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Hip or knee pain
• Frequent illnesses
• Excessive fatigue or stress
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
• Walking abnormalities
• Sciatica

There are several issues that can accompany a misaligned spine that you might not relate to this being the cause of the problem. A misaligned spine can cause fractures in bones in the spine called vertebrae, respiratory issues, insomnia, digestive problems, and of course chronic pain.

There are some home remedies that assist with aligning the spine such as exercises and stretches. When sitting too long take time even at work to go for a short walk for this aids in reducing the pressure off your sit bones and lower back. Another great idea for those of you who work sitting down for long periods of time try using a stability ball at work for about 15-20 minutes several times a day instead of your office chair.

In the chiropractic world, keeping the problem fixed and preventing its reoccurrence is just as important as the initial remedy. A spinal adjustment is one of the more common chiropractic treatments. As you lie on the chiropractic table the doctor and physically adjust your joints and tissues to reduce the pain and inflammation. Through treatments such as spinal decompression, physical therapy, and chiropractic adjustments. The adjustments realign the spine into its proper position, which alleviates pain and facilitates proper spine movement.

There are several questions you can ask your self if you are questioning if your pain or ailment could be the result of a misaligned spine.

• Is one leg shorter than the other?
• Are you comfortable lying on your back?
• Is one shoulder higher than the other?
• Are you easily winded (short of breath)?
• Are there things that you are no longer able to do?
• Is your digestion sluggish?
• Are you having headaches?
• Do you have recurring infections?
• Do you have allergies?

If you said, “Yes” to three or more of these questions you might have a misaligned spine.

For help with chronic pain from an accident or injury, Chiropractic Clinics of South Florida has several locations in Pompano Beach, North Miami, West Palm Beach, Hollywood, Miami Lakes, Miami Airport, and Kendall in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Our chiropractors will provide a pain consultation and recommend the best treatments for you.
For more information on our chiropractic treatment options for chronic pain, contact us at 877-881-4878 (HURT) or click on Make An Appointment to schedule a consultation with Dr. Garrett Weinstein.