Most people think about their spine as a bunch of bones in their back. The spine is so much more than this, in face it is an engineering masterpiece giving you a balance of protection and the ability to move.
The spine is made up of bones called vertebra and there are 24 of them;
- 7 in the neck or Cervical spine
- 12 in the mid back of Thoracic spine
- 5 in the lower back or Lumbar spine
Each bone is separated by the next with intervertebral disc or disc for short. This disc has 2 roles
- To provide a small amount of shook absorption
- To allow your spine to move
Those of you who have had x-rays taken and the discs have worn out will find that area of the spine doesn’t move as well.
When the vertebra stack up on each other a hole is formed on each side, this hole is called the intervertebral foramen or IVF. It is this hole where the never passes through. If the hole is wide then the nerve gets through without problems. If the vertebra are not working, well this can make the hole smaller and affect the never as it passes through, thus causing problems. These problems can range from back and neck pain, leg and arm pain, pins and needles, numbness, muscle spasm tension and tightness to weak muscles and many other problems.
Now you have started to learn a little about the spine, I’m sure you can see how intricate it is and how important good function is. If you would like to learn more I hold fortnightly classes at the office or you can give me call.
Dr Nathan
