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Subluxation Defined: |
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A subluxation is a misaligned bone which stresses the funtion of your Nervous System. It is like a short circuit to your brain and if your are subluxated you can not be at your best health potential.
Your circuit breaker box in your house is just like your spine!! Just as each circuit controls a specific room in your home each vertabrae has nerves that control every muscle, organ, gland and cell in your entire body!!
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Tips for a Healthy Spine: |
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Bretz Family Chiropractic
6810 South Cedar Street, Suite D
Lansing, MI 48911
(517) 699-2100
Fax (517) 6991-2101 |
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TIPS FOR A HEALTHY SPINE
Recommended by American Chiropractic Association
STANDING
- When standing, keep one foot slightly in front of the other, with your knees slightly bent. This position helps to take the pressure off your lower back.
- Do not stand bent forward at the waist for prolonged periods of time. The muscles in your low back become deconditioned in this position, which may lead to back pain.
SITTING
- Keep you knees slightly higher than your hips, with your head up and back straight.
- Avoid rolling your shoulders forward (slouching).
- Try to maintain the natural curve in your low back.
REACHING AND BENDING
- When reaching for something about shoulder level, stand on a stool. Straining to reach such objects may not only hurt your mid-back and neck, but it can also bring on shoulder problems.
- Do NOT bend over at the waist to pick up items from the floor or a table.
- Instead, kneel down on one knee, as close as possible to the item you are lifting, with the other foot flat on the floor and pick the item up.
- Or bend at the knees, keep the item close to your body, and lift with your legs, not your back.
LIFTING
- At all times, avoid twisting while lifting. Twisting is one of the most dangerous movements for your spine, especially while lifting.
- If the item is too heavy to lift, pushing it is easier on your back than pulling it. Whenever possible, use your legs, not your back or upper body, to push the item.
- If you must lift a heavy item, get someone to help you.
CARRYING
- When carrying objects, particularly if they are heavy, keep them as close to your body as possible.
- Carrying two small objects – one in each hand – is often easier to handle than one large one.
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WHAT IS THE SPINE?
The spine is our backbone, which extends from the neck to the tailbone. The spine consists of 33 relatively small bones, called vertebrae. The neck part of the spine, called cervical spine, consists of 7 vertebrae. There are 12 vertebrae in the upper and mid-back (thoracic spine), and 5 in the low back, or lumbar spine. Five bones fuse together in the tailbone region to form the sacrum, and below that is the coccyx, formed by 4 bones.
The spine is an integral part of the body. Without it, people would not be able to stand upright. The spine houses and protects the spinal cord, absorbing shock and allowing us to bend and twist. Hundreds of muscles, ligaments and tendons are attached to the spine, as well.
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HEALTHY DIET AND EXERCISE
- While the proverbial jury is still out, we suspect that extra weight puts undue strain on your spine. Keep within 10 lbs. of your ideal weight for a healthier back.
- “Beer belly” is likely the worst culprit, as it puts unwanted pressure on the muscles, ligaments and tendons in your low back.
- The most efficient and effective way to reduce weight is by eating a sensible diet and exercising regularly.
- Consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise program, particularly if you have a health condition.
SLEEPING
- Sleeping on your back puts approximately 50 pounds of pressure on your spine. Other positions may be better.
- Placing a pillow or two under your knees while lying on your back cuts the pressure on your spine roughly in half.
- Lying on your side with a pillow between your knees may also reduce the pressure on your back.
- Never sleep in a position that causes a portion of your spine to hurt. Most often, your body will tell you what position is best.
QUIT SMOKING
- It has been well established that smokers are more likely to develop many diseases and conditions. Back pain is no exception. Smokers have more spine pain than nonsmokers, and they also heal more slowly when they have an episode of back pain because the chemicals in cigarette/cigar/pipe smoke restrict the flow of blood to the tissues in and around your spine.
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Subluxation Chart: |
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Vertebrae
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Areas Controlled by Nerves Directly or indirectly |
Possible Effects of a Malfunction |
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C-1
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Blood supply to the head, pituitary gland, scalp bones of the face, brain, inner and middle ear, sympathetic nervous system |
O headache, O nervousness, O insomnia, O head colds, O high blood pressure, O migraine headaches, O nervous breakdowns, O amnesia, O chronic tiredness, O dizziness |
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C-2 |
Eyes, optic nerves, auditory nerves, sinus, mastoid bones, tongue forehead |
O sinus trouble, O allergies, O crossed eyes, O deafness, O eye trouble, O ear ache, O fainting spells, O vision difficulties |
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C-3
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Cheeks, outer ear, face bones teeth, trifacial nerve |
O neuralgia, O neuritis, O acne or pimples, O eczema |
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C-4
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Nose, lips, mouth, Eustachian tube |
O hay fever, O catarrh, hearing loss, O adenoids |
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C-5
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Vocal cords, neck glands, pharynx |
O laryngitis, O hoarseness, O sore throats, O quinsy |
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C-6
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Neck muscles, shoulders, and tonsils |
O stiff neck, O pain in upper arm, O tonsillitis, O whooping cough, O croup |
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C-7
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Thyroid gland, bursa in the shoulders, elbows |
O bursitis, O colds, O thyroid conditions |
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T-1
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Arms from elbows down, including the hands, wrists and fingers, esophagus, and trachea |
O asthma, O cough, O difficult breathing, O shortness of breath, O pain in lower arm, O pain in hands |
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T-2
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Heart, including its valves and covering, coronary arteries |
O functional heart conditions, O chest conditions. |
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T-3
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Lungs, bronchial tubes, pleura, chest, breast |
O bronchitis, O pleurisy, O pneumonia, O congestion, O influenza |
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T-4
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Gail bladder, common duct |
O gall bladder conditions, O jaundice, O shingles |
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T-5
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Livers, solar plexus, blood |
O liver conditions, O fevers, O low blood pressure, O anemia poor circulation, O arthritis |
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T-6
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Stomach |
O stomach trouble, O nervous stomach, O indigestion, O heart burn, O dyspepsia |
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T-7
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Pancreas, duodenum |
O ulcers, O gastritis |
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T-8
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Spleen |
O low resistance to colds and disease |
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T-9
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Adrenal and supra-reanl glands |
O allergies, O hives |
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T-10
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Kidneys |
O kidney trouble, O hardening of the arteries, O chronic tiredness, O nephritis, O pyelitis |
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T-11
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Kidneys and ureters |
O acne, O pimples, O eczema, O boils |
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T-12
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small intestines, lymph circulation |
O rheumatism, O gas pains, O sterility |
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L-1
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Large intestines, inguinal rings |
O constipation, O colitis, O dysentery, O diarrhea, O ruptures, O hernias |
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L-2
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Appendix, abdomen, upper leg |
O cramps, O difficult breathing, O acidosis, O varicose veins |
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L-3
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Sex organs, uterus, bladder, knees |
O bladder trouble, O menstrual trouble such as painful or irregular periods, O miscarriages, O bed wetting, O impotency, O change of life symptoms, O knee pains |
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L-4
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Prostrate gland, muscles of the lower back, sciatica nerve |
O sciatica, O lumbago, O difficult, O painful or too frequent urination, O backaches |
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L-5
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Lower legs, ankles, feet |
O poor circulation in legs, O leg cramps, O swollen ankles, O weak ankles and arches cold feet weakness in the legs, O leg cramps |
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Sacrum
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Hip bones, buttocks |
O low back pain, O spinal curvature |
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Coccyx
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Rectum, anus |
O hemorrhoids, O piles, O pruritus (itching), O pain at end of spine on sitting |
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