Do you know the shape of your spine? A lot of people think that the spine is straight because they have a straight posture. However, this is not true. The spine is not straight, rather it is curved. The curvature of your spine is very important because it is what allows you to have a proper balance when you are walking or moving around. If the spine is straight, it will be very difficult to stand as the body will have the tendency to put its weight on only one side which will cause you to fall down.
Your spine has four natural curves - cervical, thoracic, lumber and sacrum-coccyx. The cervical curve comprises of the bones that are usually found in the neck area. Right below that part is the thoracic curve. The lumbar curve, on the other hand, is positioned near your back. Normally, people would only consider these three curves as the main curvatures of the spine. However, there is one more - the sacrum-coccyx curve. This curve can be found right at the lower tip of the spinal cord.
Why are the natural curves of the spine important? Curves are important in making the spine flexible. You can bend your back forward, sideward and backward because your spine is not in a straight line. In addition to this, the curve also supports the spine and the body. If the spine is vertical in structure, it will not be able to support the weight of the body. However, because it is curved in different areas, the weight is being distributed and it is easier to balance.
When the curves of your spine are in their proper places and condition, you can attain the center of gravity. This is the position where you can stand the strongest and you will not fall easily. This is sometimes referred to as the perfect posture because nothing can ruin your balance. However, there are some conditions that make the curves of the spine abnormal. In particular, these curvature disorders are categorized into three - lordosis, kyphosis and scoliosis.
Lordosis is the condition wherein the spine is too inwardly curved. This condition mainly affects your lower back area and in some cases the neck area. If you have this condition, your buttocks will stand out a lot. It will seem like you are doing it on purpose. Because this affects your lower back, it is normal to feel pain in that area.
Kyphosis is the condition wherein the spine is too outwardly curved. This is the condition responsible for hunchbacks. In mainly affects the thoracic curve or the chest area. This can occur because of persistent hunching of the back and poor posture.
Scoliosis is one of the most popular spine curvature disorders. It happens when the spine curves sideward - left or right. This is most common in children but anyone can have this condition. If you are experiencing scoliosis and other curvature problems, you should immediately consult your doctor or anyone in the osteopathy medicine to diagnose your condition.
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