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Your
Back
The exact condition of your
back is very important to your health. A better back can
lead to a better body. Each vertebrae is held in its
proper place by three different kinds of soft tissue -
discs, ligaments, and muscles. Almost all back problems
are related to the dysfunction of one of these three.
To
understand the sources of your particular back problem
and/or how to prevent back pain, it helps to understand
the anatomy of your spine.
Vertebrae
The
natural curves of the spine are vitally important for
giving your back strength and resilience. There are 24
vertebrae in your spinal column. The lumbar vertebrae
are approximately two inches in diameter reflecting
their weight bearing role. The cervical vertebrae are
smaller, since they must support only the head. Facet
joints are located in pairs on the back of the spine,
where one vertebra slightly overlaps the next. The facet
joints guide and restrict movement of the spine. To the
rear of each vertebrae is a hole and when the vertebrae
are stacked up, these holes form a continuous channel
which holds the spinal cord.
Spinal
Cord
The
spinal cord provides a vital link between the brain and
all body functions below the neck. This includes
internal organs and all feeling. Spinal nerves emerge
from the spinal cord through gaps between the main body
of the vertebrae and the facet joints. One the most
frequent causes of back pain is a worn facet joint,
which can result in a pinched nerve. Therefore, it is
very important to keep your vertebrae in good
shape.
Discs
This
drawing shows a normal disc. The main function of your
discs is to act as shock absorbers and provide
separation between each vertebrae. The outer layers of
your discs are formed from tough cartilage. The inner
core of your disc is a jelly-like nucleus.
In
total, your discs account for one-quarter the length of
your vertebral column 4.50" to 6" (12 to 15
cm) for most people.
The
disc acquires its nourishment through fluid-attracting
and fluid-absorbing qualities of its jelly-like nucleus.
With no blood supply of it own, the disc is dependent on
sponge action for attracting and absorbing nutrients
from adjacent tissues. During non-weight bearing
activities (sleeping) the discs expand as they soak up
fluid increasing the length of the spine by as much as
one inch overnight. In weight bearing activities
(sitting, standing, exercising), this fluid is squeezed
back into the adjacent soft tissue.
Muscles
Your
vertebra are supported and moved by many different
muscles. Muscles are used for three basic functions;
support, movement, and posture control. If muscles are
tight or weak, they create or worsen back pain. Joints
are controlled by at least two sets of muscles, flexors
which bend the joint, and extensors which straighten it.
In addition, most joints have rotator muscles that twist
and rotate your bones. Good posture is only possible if
the flexors, extensors, and rotators are in proper
balance.
Your
paraspinal muscles (which run parallel to your spine)
rotate your spine, bend it backwards, and sideways, and
influence posture by creating and maintaining the curves
of your spine.
Your
erector spine muscles are involved in movement and run
the length of your spine. These muscles help you to bend
over by resisting the force of gravity, and to
straighten up by contracting and exerting great
compressive force on your spine.
Your
abdominal muscles play an important role in helping to
support the spine by maintaining pressure inside the
abdomen. This pressure is an essential measure of
counter support to the spine.
Your
psoas muscles (hip flexors) are a large group of muscles
in the abdomen. These muscles help to flex your hips
when walking or climbing stairs. They play an important
role in maintaining posture for sitting and standing.
Ligaments
Intervertebral
joints are supported by ligaments, tough and inelastic
fibers, which support the spine and hold it together by
allowing only a limited range of movement in any one
direction. Ligaments require regular movement and
stretching, otherwise they will eventually become stiff
and weak.
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The 24 vertebrae in
your back encase your spinal cord.
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Spinal nerves run
through each vertebral joint in your spinal column.
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Your discs act as shock
absorbers.
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With no blood supply of
their own, discs depend on sponge-like action to
soak up nutrients.
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Muscles and ligaments
require regular stretching in order to maintain
support.
Now that you better
understand your back, you can learn how inversion can
help relieve and/or prevent
back pain.
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