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| For Questions Call/Text Dr. Jimenez Personally @ 915-540-8444 or Contact Us @ 915-850-0900 |
In today’s society, its easy to identify a strong, confident
individual by the way they carry themselves. From strong leaders to popular
group members, we can look at many of these people and see their confidence. Aside
from personality, there’s one main factor that commonly defines these individuals;
posture. The body language we display to others is a powerful source of
communication. Posture can say more about an individual than words. An upright
posture can be a subtle signal of self-assurance to everyone around you, but
more importantly, a proper posture reveals health from within.
Good posture is an essential component of your health. The
spine is the key to a strong and healthy posture. Hippocrates, the father of
modern medicine quoted, “Look first to the spine for the cause of all disease.”
The spine, also referred to as the vertebral column or spinal column, is
composed of a series of bones called vertebrae which are stacked one upon
another. The spine functions to protect the spinal cord as well as to provide
overall support to the structures of the body, allowing you to stand upright,
bend, and twist. Strong bones and muscles, flexible ligaments and tendons, and
sensitive nerves all contribute to a healthy spine. But, when an individual
does not maintain correct posture, the natural structure of the spine can be
greatly affected, leading to various spinal complications. For many years now,
it’s been acknowledged that spinal health can therefore influence your overall
health.
Unfortunately for many individuals, spine care is not
regularly considered until an injury or condition develops, causing impairing
pain and discomfort to the individual. For example, we all know the importance
of brushing our teeth every day. Pro-actively caring for our teeth is the best
way to ensure we will maintain good dental health and we don’t wait till our
teeth become sore before we start brushing them. Similar to your teeth, regular
spinal care is vital towards the health of your spine and body. Just because it
isn’t visible like your teeth, it doesn’t mean it’s any less important.
Foremost, spine care begins with improving or maintaining
posture. A proper posture involves training the body to stand, walk, sit, and
lie so that the least amount of strain is placed on the spinal bones during
movement or weight-bearing activities. Throughout your day, pay close attention
to your posture. Sitting and standing upright, especially after working behind
a computer or being constantly up on your feet for an extended period of time,
is the best practice for correcting posture. Ultimately, avoid the habit of
hunching over a computer or phone, or slouching in front of the television. In
addition, include a proper set of stretches and strengthening exercises into
your week schedule, such as weight lifting, pilates, or swimming, to help
strengthen the muscles and other tissues surrounding your spine as well as
increase your flexibility.
Chiropractic care is also efficient towards improving the
condition of your spine and correcting posture. When the spine is not being
properly supported and the body’s weight is unevenly distributed, excess
pressure is placed on the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and even the
nerves around the spine, irritating these complex structures, and leading to damage,
injury, or conditions. Subluxations, or spinal misalignments, is one of the
most common types of spinal complications resulting from improper posture. In
some cases, a spinal misalignment can lead to nerve compression and other complications
such as sciatica, a series of symptoms described as radiating pain along the
sciatic nerve which runs down one or both legs from the lower back. Through the
use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, a chiropractor can
carefully re-align the spine, naturally restoring its proper functions. Getting
adjusted regularly by a chiropractor is a great way to re-establish a better
posture and overall health.
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
