The spine is one of the most heavily discussed parts of the body, but do you really know how amazing it is? Our Fareham chiropractor reveals ten interesting facts that may just leave you a little in awe of your incredible back!
1: We are born with 33 vertebrae but only have 26 in adulthood. What happens to the other nine remaining bones? Four of them will fuse to create our tailbone and five fuse to make the back of the pelvis.
2: The spinal column has four extremely important functions – it supports the body’s weight, provides flexibility for movement, protects nerve roots and fibres and forms a protective coating for the spinal cord– the primary pathway of communication between the brain and the rest of the body
3: Spinal disorders are the biggest reported cause of disability in the working population.
4: The human spine contains over 120 muscles, 220 ligaments and over 100 joints!
5: Cartilage makes up one quarter of the spine’s length.
6: Cartilage discs expands in the absence of gravity, therefore astronauts returning from space can be 1.5 to 2 inches taller than when they left. It’s gravity’s effect on cartilage that is also responsible for humans shrinking between a quarter of an inch and five inches every decade after the age of 40. Interestingly, it also means we tend to be taller in the morning than at night because of the daily effect of gravity on the body
7: 80% of adults will experience some type of back pain during their lifetime. Back pain is actually considered the second most common location of pain experienced – headaches are the most frequently reported.
8: The incredible flexibility of the spine means it can bend far enough to form two thirds of a circle!
9:Lower back pain is the most common type of back pain reported. This is due to the fact that the lower back twists and bends more than any other part of the back. It also bears the weight of the upper body.
10:Sometimes back pain can present as a result of other ailments in the body. Middle back pain, for example, (which becomes worse after eating) can be a sign of a stomach ulcer. Intermittent back pain that travels to the groin can sometimes be indicative of kidney stones.
Our experienced team of chiropractors at Homewood are here to help and advise you on all aspects to do with your back pain.
For friendly advice or to book an appointment, contact us today on 01329 280 283 or email frontdesk@homewoodchiropractic.co.uk
Our Experience Counts: 55 Years in Fareham
Serving the people of Fareham, and surrounding areas of Southampton, Portsmouth, Hampshire and the local areas of Whiteley, Hedge End, Locks Heath & Portchester
