Fact: Fix Your Curves Or Ruin Your Spine

Abnormal spinal curves are associated with poor posture, how's yours?

Few people know that the spine has natural curves, and that the loss of those curves can result in spinal disc and arthritic vertebral degeneration.1  The medical terminology for the types of degeneration I’m referring to are: osteoarthritis, spondylosis, degenerative disc disease (DDD), arthrosis, facet syndrome, and degenerative joint disease (DJD).  Loss of the normal spinal curves cause changes in the way the spine moves (kinematics).4,6,7  Alterations in normal spinal flexibility and movement lead to spinal degeneration due to abnormal stress and strain on bone, muscles and ligaments.3,5,11,16

As the research demonstrates, if you lose the normal curves in your neck, mid back, or low back, you will wear out your spine.  Degeneration of the spine is associated with nerve compression, spinal stenosis, back pain, headaches, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, and sciatica.  What’s even more troubling is that loss of your spinal curves and poor posture, are suggested to be responsible for initiation of osteoporotic spinal deformity in elderly.9

In our clinic, we use the only evidence based technique in physical medicine, that is supported by clinical trials to remodel the curves of your spine back towards normal.8,10,12  Normal measurements for the curves in the spine have been established in some of the highest quality, most respected research journals in the world.8,13,14,15

Fix your curve for a healthy spine

If you have back pain, neck pain, headaches, aching between your shoulder blades, TMJ, spinal degeneration, shoulder pain, hip pain, knee pain, or poor posture, there is a good chance you have lost the normal curves of your spine.  Taking medication, exercising, or having your spine adjusted/manipulated may help you with the pain in the short term, but there is no denying the research proven facts…you have to correct the spinal curves, if you want to have a healthy back as you age.  If you are having any of these problems, do yourself a favor, and fix the cause, don’t just manage the symptoms.

When the head moves forward, the curve straightens out, and causes degeneration.

Our clinic is one of a very small number of offices that perform spinal remodeling/rehabilitation in North Carolina.  Due to the extensive continuing education required to practice spinal remodeling/rehabilitation, few practitioners pursue learning this specialty.  We are committed to working on helping you fix your spinal problems, not just patch up the symptoms.  If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact us at (828) 324-0800, or email us at drshook@alliancechiropracticenter.com.

Before you choose a healthcare provider to help you, make sure they have strong evidence for the care they recommend (I advise asking to see it before making a decision).  Asking for the evidence behind the care your doctor recommends will save you time, money, and protect your health.

Visit Us On the Web: www.alliancechiropracticcenter.com and www.ncfibroclinic.com

1. Okada E, Matsumoto M, Ichihara D, Chiba K, Toyama Y, Fujiwara H, Momoshima S, Nishiwaki Y, Hashimoto T, Ogawa J, Watanabe M, Takahata T.  Does the sagittal alignment of the cervical spine have an impact on disk degeneration? Minimum 10-year follow-up of asymptomatic volunteers. Eur Spine J. 2009 Nov;18(11):1644-51.
2. Okada E, Matsumoto M, Ichihara D, Chiba K, Toyama Y, Fujiwara H, Momoshima S, Nishiwaki Y, Hashimoto T, Ogawa J, Watanabe M, Takahata T. Aging of the cervical spine in healthy volunteers: a 10-year longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009 Apr 1;34(7):706-12.
3. Miyazaki M, Hymanson HJ, Morishita Y, He W, Zhang H, Wu G, Kong MH, Tsumura H, Wang JC.  Kinematic analysis of the relationship between sagittal alignment and disc degeneration in the cervical spine.  Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2008 Nov 1;33(23):E870-6.
4. Takeshima T, Omokawa S, Takaoka T, Araki M, Ueda Y, Takakura Y. Sagittal alignment of cervical flexion and extension: lateral radiographic analysis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2002 Aug 1;27(15):E348-55.
5. Miyazaki M, Hong SW, Yoon SH, Zou J, Tow B, Alanay A, Abitbol JJ, Wang JC. Kinematic analysis of the relationship between the grade of disc degeneration and motion unit of the cervical spine. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2008 Jan 15;33(2):187-93.
6. Colloca CJ, Keller TS, Moore RJ, Harrison DE, Gunzburg R. Validation of a noninvasive dynamic spinal stiffness assessment methodology in an animal model of intervertebral disc degeneration. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009 Aug 15;34(18):1900-5.
7. Colloca CJ, Keller TS, Moore RJ, Gunzburg R, Harrison DE.  Intervertebral disc degeneration reduces vertebral motion responses.  Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2007 Sep 1;32(19):E544-50.
8. Oakley PA, Harrison DD, Harrison DE, Haas JW. Evidence-based protocol for structural rehabilitation of the spine and posture: review of clinical biomechanics of posture (CBP) publications. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2005 Dec;49(4):270-96.
9. Keller TS, Harrison DE, Colloca CJ, Harrison DD, Janik TJ.  Prediction of osteoporotic spinal deformity. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2003 Mar 1;28(5):455-62.
10. Harrison DE, Cailliet R, Harrison DD, Janik TJ, Holland B. Changes in sagittal lumbar configuration with a new method of extension traction: nonrandomized clinical controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2002 Nov;83(11):1585-91.
11. Harrison DE, Jones EW, Janik TJ, Harrison DD. Evaluation of axial and flexural stresses in the vertebral body cortex and trabecular bone in lordosis and two sagittal cervical translation configurations with an elliptical shell model. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2002 Jul-Aug;25(6):391-401.
12. Harrison DE, Cailliet R, Harrison DD, Janik TJ, Holland B.  A new 3-point bending traction method for restoring cervical lordosis and cervical manipulation: a nonrandomized clinical controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2002 Apr;83(4):447-53.
13. Harrison DD, Janik TJ, Troyanovich SJ, Holland B.  Comparisons of Lordotic Cervical Spine Curvatures to a Theoretical Ideal Model of the Static Sagittal Cervical Spine. Spine 1996;21(6):667-675.
14. Harrison DD, Harrison DE, Colloca CJ, Cailliet R, Janik TJ, Haas JW. Normal Spinal Model from T1 to S1:  Results of Elliptical Modeling in 50 Normal Subjects. 2004; in review.
15. Harrison DD, Harrison DE, Janik TJ, Cailliet R, Haas JW. Do Alterations in Vertebral and Disc Dimensions Affect an Elliptical Model of the Thoracic Kyphosis? Spine 2003; 28(5): 463-469.
16. Kumar MN, Baklanov A, Chopin D. Correlation between sagittal plane changes and adjacent segment degeneration following lumbar spine fusion. Eur Spine J 2001; [10:31]4-319.

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