the benefits of chirpractic care

Back pain is sometimes caused by an underlying condition, but the truth is that a large proportion of back conditions can be attributed to a sedentary lifestyle. A sedentary lifestyle can cause a number of problems, but one of the main issues is that it causes a postural imbalance between the core muscles and back muscles.

What are the core muscles?

When people talk about training the "core muscles," they are usually referring to the abdominal muscles. But this isn't quite true – your core consists of a number of muscles that work together to maintain good posture.

There are a number of small muscle groups that make up your core, but some are more important than others when it comes to alleviating back pain. Specifically, there are two areas that contribute the most when it comes to your posture:

• Multifidus – one of the smallest muscles that make up your "core", but also one of the most important in strengthening your spine.

• Transverse abdominis – the muscle on the front and side abdominal wall that helps support your spine.

Why is core strength important?

The importance of conditioning your core cannot be understated. Whether you are an athlete looking to increase performance or an office worker looking to fix hunchback posture, your core muscles are critical. This is because your core muscles are your body's support structure, which help keep your spinal vertebrae in proper alignment.

Your spine naturally has two gentle curves – one in the lumbar (lower back) region and one in the thoracic (upper back) area. If you have weak core muscles, these curves can become more pronounced, which may lead to significant discomfort. In order to mitigate and correct this discomfort, it is critical that you train your core muscles.

What medical conditions are caused by poor core strength?

If your lumbar or thoracic curves become more exaggerated because of poor core strength, it can lead to two main medical conditions:

• Kyphosis – This is caused by an exaggerated thoracic curve and is typically referred to as "hunchback posture." If kyphosis is allowed to develop, you will have rounded shoulders and upper back pain. This upper back pain is caused by your head protruding forward from its natural position, which increases the stress on your vertebrae.

• Lordosis – Lordosis is a condition caused by an exaggerated lumbar curve, more commonly referred to as "swayback." Swayback posture causes your hips to stuck out, which can lead to lower back pain and painful hip flexor muscles.

In order to prevent the above conditions from occurring, it is important to regularly train your core muscles. In addition to this, you should visit a chiropractor if you are suffering from pain. Chiropractors will not only be able to adjust any misalignment in your spine, but they will be able to offer you ongoing physical therapy to ensure your spinal column remains strong and healthy. For more information, contact a chiropractic clinic like South Shore Wellness Center.