truth

I'm going to tell you a secret to keeping your back healthy. It's not what you
want to hear because it starts with an E. Have you figured it out yet? Yes, it's
Exercising and stretching. The real truth to all back problems that I see has to
do with breakdown of the muscles and ligaments around the spinal bones, the
sedentary lifestyle.

Like I mentioned before, our posture of everyday use like sitting at a desk,
standing on concrete, lifting and twisting all day takes a toll on your support
system - the muscles. The spine is made up of 24 segments of bone we call
vertebrae. These bones are stacked one upon another like round blocks.
Between each segment is an elastic membrane called a disk, this disk is porous
like a sponge and (when healthy) is filled with fluid. The disk is like a hydraulic
shock absorber. It's important to note that the disk has no blood flow. It obtains
it's moisture and nutrients by a pumping action as the vertebrae above and
below lift, flex and bend in all directions. Without this pumping movement of the
vertebrae, the disk will dry out. It will literally starve to death. This is commonly
referred to as disk degeneration or the beginning of arthritis.

What's so bad about bad posture? Well, for starters, the muscles and ligaments
that support your spine grow and adapt to the posture. The ligaments in front of
your spine become shorter and almost never get stretched. While the ligaments
at the back and sides become over stretched and elongated. After years spent
constantly hunched over, we start to work in the yard and suddenly stand up,
and become injured. Perhaps the first time wasn't that bad, but as you have
many of these bouts, scar tissue builds and causes stiffness and soreness.

So the truth of the matter, exercise and stretching on a daily basis will limit your
back problems. I recommend a posture check with proper x-rays and therapy,
and follow with a good stretching and exercise routine.

So get off the sofa and take care of your back.