The Summerville Sun

Presented by Dr. Drew McPhail
Chiropractic Physician

Understanding Your Spine, Part II

"Understand Your Spine, Part I", discussed "Spinal Anatomy". "Understanding Your Spine, Parts II & III" discuss the "Primary Causes of Neck Pain."

The #1 reason for neck discomfort and pain occurs when the vertebrae are out of their proper alignment, resulting in improper motion.

The Primary Causes of Neck Pain Spinal Misalignment The longer a vertebra is out of alignment, the further the restraining ligaments stretch, the more arthritis will occur in that joint, and the more difficult it will be to realign the vertebra.

Muscle Weakness Strong neck muscles are crucial to a healthy neck because strong neck muscles are less likely to incur injuries. When neck muscles are weak, they are not able to hold the head or neck in the correct, upright posture. Neck muscles that have lost strength will allow the neck vertebrae to slip out of alignment. Weaker neck muscles lead to poor posture.

Structural Disorders of the Spine Prolonged improper posture can misalign or malform entire sections of the spine.

The "widow's hump" or "Dowagers hump" deformity is an example. The upper and mid back become hunched as a result of a head-forward posture. When the head is carried forward of the spine, the weight of the head pushing forward and down forces the upper and mid back to become rounded. The lower back then sags forward in an attempt to maintain balance.

Scoliosis is another structural deformity of the spine. This occurs when the curves of the spine are exaggerated to the side, backward or forward, or a combination of these. This condition predominantly affects adolescent or teenage children, and it affects females eight times as often as males. When structural disorder such as scoliosis occurs, it produces excessive strain on certain areas of the spine, misaligning them. The resulting changes in weight bearing can lead to excessive strain on the hips, eventually causing arthritis and degeneration of the hip joints.

Vibration The discs of your spine are very susceptible to the effects of micro- traumas (mini-shocks). Excessive riding in a vehicle, some types of dancing, jogging, horseback riding, riding dirt bikes, water skiing, and riding in boats all produce vibrations that can injure your spinal discs and lead to arthritis. Excessive vibration to a weakened spine can actually shake spinal vertebrae out of alignment, producing pain.

To help prevent vibrational injuries, drink adequate amounts of water throughout the day.

Drafts of Air Drafts of air continually hitting your neck can cause your neck muscles to tighten and become spastic, which may pull your vertebrae out of place.

Mental Stress Mental stress can create neck pain. If you are angry, your muscles may tense without your realizing it. The longer the tension lasts, the more likely your muscles will harden into painful knots.

Neck pain is something that should be taken seriously. Even minimal pain means that something is wrong. If it is not fixed, it will likely get worse. (467 words)

Excerpt from "Neck Pain, You Don't Want It, You Don't Need it", a publication edited by Peter G. Fernandez, DC, to which Dr. McPhail is a contributing author. These books can be purchased at Dr. McPhail's Chiropractic Office at 215 East 5th North Street (Hwy 78). For more information about back and neck pain relief, please visit www.drmcphail.com or call Dr. McPhail at 873-2225 Back Talk Presented by Dr. Drew McPhail Chiropractic Physician

Understanding Your Spine, Part III (July 31, 2008)

"Understand Your Spine, Part I", discussed Spinal Anatomy. "Understanding Your Spine, Part II" discussed Spinal Misalignment, Muscle Weakness, and Structural Disorders of the Spine as "Primary Causes of Neck Pain."

"Primary Causes of Neck Pain" (continued)

Injuries A significant percentage of misalignments of the neck are caused by injury, which can severely damage fragile neck structures. Neck vertebrae can be broken, dented, or crushed. Whiplash injuries from automobile accidents are a primary reason people seek chiropractic care. Sports and falls also contribute greatly to neck injuries.

Strains and Sprains When a muscle or tendon is stretched or torn, it is called a strain. A sprain is when ligaments or discs are stretched, ripped, or ruptured. A muscle can be suddenly ripped (strain) and occurs quite often in athletes who overexert a muscle. Ligaments can also be ripped by a sudden effort (sprain).

Muscles can be strained to a lesser degree by repetitiously doing a one- sided activity over a long period of time.

Continuously pulling on the muscles on one side of your neck, such as when working or reading in a bent-over posture, stretches them little by little, and ultimately injures the muscles. The prolonged bending of your head and neck forward stretches your neck muscles, which weakens them and allows your vertebrae to shift out of alignment.

Continued stretching of these muscles can cause them to fray and possibly rip over time. The same pattern of overstretching, fraying, and then ripping can also occur with ligaments. A minor repetitious sprain may lead to a more serious sprain, and ultimately to a rupture of the ligaments.

Muscles are responsible for moving bones and supporting proper posture. When spinal muscles become strained, the spine sags in one direction, causing misaligning vertebrae that can then put pressure on the nerves that leave from the spine to all other parts of the body.

Pressure on nerves can hurt and even become incapacitating. Ligaments hold bones together. If a spinal ligament is stretched or ripped (a sprain), vertebrae will misalign, resulting in irritated nerves and spinal problems. Therefore, preventing strains and sprains of the neck and back muscles is paramount for avoiding more serious neck problems.

Whether caused by an injury, continuous poor posture, strains, sprains, or an infection, neck pain is something that should be taken seriously. Even minimal pain means that something is wrong and needs to be fixed. If it is not fixed, it will likely get worse.