A major focus of spinal corrective care is the cervical curve in your neck. There is an overwhelming amount of scientific evidence dating back to the 1960s to today that proves how critical this cervical (neck) curve is to your health and the prevention of degenerative disease.
1. In 1960, in the Journal of Neural Neurosurgery Psychiatry, a study was done that found when the curve in your neck moves forward out of its normal position, your spinal cord experiences up to 40lbs of pressure!1
2. A 2006 study done by the Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine in the Liberty Safe Work Research Centre at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland showed that when you lost the curve in your neck it literally shrunk the circumference of your spinal cord.2 A 1998 study in Germany found that it shrinks the diameter of your cord up to 24% due to the tension and pressure losing your curve creates.3 This stretching, narrowing, and shrinking of the cord leads to severe neurological compromise.4
3. Researchers in Japan found that when the spine loses its normal curve, it actually flattens the spinal cord and leads to degeneration of spine tissue.5 Other research in Japan showed that this degeneration was so bad it created demyelization of the spinal cord - as is seen in a Multiple Sclerosis patient.6
4. German studies found through MRIs of the spinal cord and the spinal canal in the neck that when you lose the curve, you stretch the spinal cord (like a rubber band) as much as 15mm!7
5. On a positive note, a large research study on 100 patients revealed that if you have a normal curve in your neck, you have no chance of spinal stenosis (pathological loss of spinal canal space). However, it also showed that if you’ve had a trauma, there’s a 98% chance you will have lost the curve in your neck (And most likely headed towards stenosis).
Other Science that is Important to Know Related to the Need of Spinal Correction
Stop, and More Importantly, Prevent Spinal Degeneration through Wolf’s Law:
Abnormal weight bearing placed upon spinal bones will cause you to exhibit abnormal and premature degenerative patterns. This degenerative, aging process can start immediately when bones of the spine are misaligned. Spinal correction prevents the damaging effects of Wolf’s Law from kicking in and a well-trained chiropractor can stop and even reverse this problem if identified early enough.
Motion is the Key to Life and Performance:
Anyone that has ever tried to improve their golf swing, play with their grandkids, or try and win an Olympic medal knows that mobility and range of motion is critical and non-negotiable. That’s why corrective care chiropractors will have patients ranging from kids to grandparents and also are seen on the sidelines of professional and Olympic sports competitions.
The results of a recently published study in the November/December 2001 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics showed that cervical range of motion was significantly improved with chiropractic adjustments.
More Critical Facts about Correction:
With proper alignment and normal curves, the spine has a dramatic increase in resistance to injury. In fact, your spine is 26 times more resistant to forces when all the spinal units are properly aligned.9
If you’re a parent, then you know your child falls enough times in a day to hospitalize an adult. A healthy child’s spine can withstand this assault. As an adult, between stress, poor posture, car accidents, sports trauma, etc. – it’s critical that your spine be able to withstand great amounts of force to ensure health and safety.
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