Fun Facts About The Back 

Have you ever heard the saying ‘Your spine is your lifeline’? Fitness guru Denise Austin has tossed that quote out in Pilates workouts, and with good reason: it really is true. The spine is the central hub of your body’s internal wiring system, forming the basis and central route for your nerves and blood vessels. The back is quite fascinating, actually. Read on as a local Burnsville, MN chiropractor delves into some things you may not have known about your spine.

Smoking Is Bad For The Back

There’s no shortage of research proving the harmful effects of smoking on the body. New research has revealed a link between smoking and back pain. One of the many harmful effects that nicotine has on the body is to reduce blood flow, which in turn delays healing and reduces bone strength.

Your Spine Remembers Pain

Have you ever winced in sympathy when seeing someone else take a tumble or perhaps stub their toe? That’s the body’s memory of pain at work. Many of those memories are stored in the spinal column. When you hurt yourself, the neurons in your spinal cord transmit pain signals to the injured part of your body. Your body will remember those signals, and (hopefully) instinctively try to guard against repeating those injuries.

Moving Together

The spinal cord is a precisely-ordered group of different moving parts. All together, your spine includes and/or is supported by 120 muscles, 100 joints, and 220 ligaments … along with the 33 vertebrae we just mentioned.

Back Pain Is Not Uncommon

If you’ve ever suffered from back pain, know that you are in good company. About eight out of ten Americans will have back pain at some point.

A Heavy Weight

The average spinal cord weighs about 35 grams, or about 1.2 ounces. Your head likely weighs between 10 and 12 pounds.

We have The Same Number Of Vertebrae As Giraffes

If there was ever an animal who would probably love chiropractic treatments, it’s the giraffe. Believe it or not, both humans and giraffes have the same number of cervical vertebrae: seven. Theirs, of course, are much longer.

Most Mammals Have Seven Cervical Vertebrae

Giraffes and humans aren’t the only mammals with seven cervical vertebrae. This is the case with most mammals. Of course, there is always an exception to the rule. In this case, the sloth and manatee are the outliers. The manatee has six. Sloths couldn’t decide: the two-toed sloth has five or six, and the three-toed sloth has nine. (No word yet on whether the number of vertebrae has anything to do with the fact that sloths are, well, rather slow, but we’ll leave that research to others.) 

Your Back Is Very Flexible

If you were to separate your spine from your body, it could almost be bent into a circle. The final curvature would be at something like 2/3^rds of a full circle. 

The Spine Is Independent Of The Brain

As you probably know, the brain controls every function in your body, both voluntary and involuntary. Many of those messages, such as muscle motion, are sent via the nervous system, which utilizes the spine as its hub or highway. However, the spinal cord also functions independently. Muscle spasms are one example of this: those reflexive signals are not sent from the brain.

You’re Taller In Space

Though there is definitely still a lot to learn, we’ve already discovered some fascinating information about the effects that being in space has on the human body. Here’s an unexpected one: astronauts are typically 3 percent taller upon their return from space than they were when they left. The lack of gravity allows the discs in your spinal column to expand.

You’re Also Taller In The Morning

Space isn’t the only thing that can affect the length of your spine. You’re also a bit taller when you wake up in the morning. When you are laying down, the effects of gravity are no longer pulling on your body from the top down. And while you’re sleeping, the cartilage in your back expands a bit, also due to the relief from gravity.

We Are Born With 33 Vertebrae … 

Humans are born with 33 vertebrae. These are divided into segments. There are seven cervical vertebrae; 12 thoracic vertebrae; 5 lumbar vertebrae; 5 sacral vertebrae; and 4 coccygeal vertebrae.

… But Lose Some Along The Way

Not all of those 33 vertebrae stay with us through the course of our lives. As we grow older, some of them fuse together, forming the back of the pelvis and the tailbone. Most of us eventually end up with 26.

The Name Coccyx Comes From The Word Cuckoo

This one may be a surprising association. The word coccyx is a derivative of the word cuckoo. Wondering what the connection is? The tailbone is shaped like a cuckoo’s beak.

Sticking Your Neck Out 

The longest neck on record, according to the Guinness Book Of World Records, was 40 centimetres. This wasn’t a natural occurrence: it was created by adding coils of copper to the neck, slowly stretching it out over several years. This is done by some indigenous tribes, including the Padaung or Kareni tribes of Myanmar, who see long necks as a sign of beauty.

Good Posture = Good Mood

Did you know that your posture can affect your mood and your confidence? Slumping and slouching can add to feeling stressed or tired, but sitting or standing up straight can help you feel more alert. This isn’t as far-fetched as one may think: good posture helps maximize circulation and oxygenation of the blood, which benefits your physical and emotional health in many ways. 

Misalignments Can Interfere WIth Your Digestion

A misalignment in the spine can cause pain, stiffness, fatigue, headaches, and all sorts of other issues. But did you know it can also affect your body’s ability to digest food properly? The nerves in your digestive system rely on information sent and received via the spinal cord. If those messages aren’t getting through, it could interfere with your digestion. 

A Misalignment In The Spine Can Interfere With Breathing

Misalignments can also impact your lung function, by making it difficult to fully open your chest. (Note: chiropractic care can help with this.)

Stress Affects The Back

Have you ever noticed that you feel very stiff and sore when you are stressed? Many of us literally hold stress and anxiety in our backs. This in turn impedes circulation, comfort, and mobility, adding to a downward spiral. Chiropractic care can release that tension. Massage is also great for this.

Chiropractic Treatments Help A Variety Of Health Problems

Chiropractic treatments have been proven effective against a myriad of health issues, which range from migraines to back pain to digestive issues. 

To learn more about chiropractic treatments, please reach out to us here at Amesbarry Chiropractic, your Burnsville, MN chiropractic care center. 

Conclusion: The human spine is a marvel of various moving parts, which work together to coordinate the body’s physical movements and also send and receive information to and from the brain. 

Schedule An Appointment At Our Burnsville, MN Chiropractic Care Clinic

Are you interested in learning more about chiropractic treatment? Please feel free to contact us here at Amesbarry Chiropractic, your Burnsville, MN chiropractic care center, anytime. We always have your back!