Align Your Spine, and You'll Feel Just Fine
by Dr. Gina Marino
Good spinal alignment means good health. Essentially, your spine is the biomechanical center of your body. Your legs are connected to your spine via two large and strong pelvic bones. Your arms are connected to your spine via your shoulder blades, ribs and numerous strong muscles and ligaments. Spinal alignment supports the functioning of all these associated components. When your spine is in line, then all your body’s mechanical abilities, such as bending forward and backward, twisting and turning, and walking and running can be performed at maximal levels.
In addition to the importance of spinal alignment for physical performance, it is also a key factor in the proper functioning of your whole body. In other words, spinal alignment is a critical element in obtaining and maintaining good health. Specifically, your brain is protected by your skull and your spine protects your spinal cord and 31 pairs of spinal nerves. Your brain, nervous system and body communicate with each other through this pathway. It controls all parts of the body and maintains physical and mental well-being while constantly adapting your body and mind to your environment.
How Spinal Misalignment Affects your Body
When your spine is out of alignment or misaligned, the small ligaments that hold the vertebrae together and the small muscles that move those bones become irritated and inflamed. Left undetected, this soft tissue inflammation can affect the local spinal nerves, leading to nerve irritation. The resulting nerve interference disrupts the flow of information between your brain and the regions of your body supplied by the irritated spinal nerves, potentially resulting in loss of function or abnormal function of affected cells, tissues, organs and organ systems. Nerve interference may cause muscle tightness and pain, as well as signs and symptoms of conditions affecting your gastrointestinal, immune, endocrine and cardiorespiratory systems. Overall, spinal misalignment and nerve interference may be involved in causing a wide variety of conditions and disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system and other systems of your body.
The Role of Spinal Alignment in Body and Brain Balance
Chiropractic is not just for neck and back pain; it also improves brain function and benefits nearly every aspect of human performance. Four specific research studies over the last decade show that the largest impact of chiropractic adjustments occurs in the brain. The spine, brain and autonomic nervous system—which controls vital functions like heartbeat, breathing and digestion—are intricately connected. This system also manages the body’s stress response and is critical for maintaining homeostasis, which is the balance of conditions necessary for healthy living.
The first chiropractic adjustment, performed in Iowa in 1895, restored a man's hearing. Over the years, many others have experienced remarkable health benefits from chiropractic care. For example, Mahatma Gandhi received multiple adjustments weekly for three months to address high blood pressure, after which his symptoms subsided. During the 1918 Spanish influenza epidemic, thousands of people sought chiropractic adjustments, and many credited these treatments with helping them survive a pandemic that claimed nearly five percent of the global population. These examples illustrate the profound impact chiropractic adjustments can have on brain function and the autonomic nervous system, resulting in improvements in overall health.
It’s All About Balance
Nearly everything in human life—including health—depends on balance. When the mind and body are in harmony, overall quality of life improves. Chiropractic care uses natural, non-invasive techniques to support this balance. By relieving muscle tension, releasing feel-good hormones like cortisol and oxytocin, and promoting restful sleep, chiropractic interventions can also enhance mental well-being. With greater mental clarity, the mind is free to focus on healing the whole body.
Dr. Gina Marino is the founder of the Center for the Alignment of Body, Mind & Spirit located at 2213 Wantagh Ave., Wantagh, NY. She offers gentle chiropractic care, reiki, lifestyle and nutritional advice. For more information, call 516-221-3500 or visit Align-Me.com.