SPINAL HEALTH: LET’S GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT ABOUT COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

1.   No, your spine is not out of alignment.

This is an outdated and very common myth regarding back pain. The truth is, we have natural curves in the spine with a wide range of variations. These normal variations often do not cause any pain at all and allow for adequate movement.

2.   So, what goes on during a spinal adjustment?

Bones are not being cracked or moved! Essentially, when you hear those popping sounds, gas is being released from the synovial joint. For a visual, this can be compared to shaking a pop can and the release of air when you open it. This stimulates your nervous system to relax and reduce pain signals. Hopefully creating a window for increased movement and improved joint function.

3.   Do we need to completely rest with pain?

This depends! Back pain can be very complex. Most often, movement is necessary for recovery and can even decrease pain. The key is to rest as needed, then start incorporating small movements and exercises as tolerated. Eventually as the pain subsides you can add a progressive overload in order to increase strength and resiliency.

Social media can be a great tool for health and wellness but is also filled with loads of misinformation and quick fixes. The hard truth is that healing takes time, pain is sometimes inevitable, and consistency will get results.