Normal Neck Curves

Your neck has naturally occurring curve that is shaped like a "C". The mid back also has a curve in the opposite direction.  The lower back has a curve as well. It is what gives you that indentation in the small of your back.

The entire spine works together to help support your weight and structure against the forces of gravity, and the stresses inflicted upon it by physical activity. The neck is a very delicate area, and is often the part of the spine that first shows signs of wear and tear.

One of the first things that happens is that you can loose that normal "C" shaped curve. This is often called "millitary neck.  Without an x-ray, it is very difficult to detect. There are many things that can contribute to the loss of the normal neck curve, including poor posture habits, car accident injuries, sport injuries, spinal developmental problems, and scoliosis, just to name a few.

The problem with a loss of the curve is that such a posture places an incredible amount of pressure on the joints of the lower part of the neck.  This increased pressure over time can cause early "wear and tear", often referred to as spondylosis or osteoarthritis.  As the degeneration progresses, delicate nerve tissue can be irritated, resulting in pain, numbness, tingling, and/or weakness in the shoulder, upper arm, lower arm, hand, fingers, or all the above.  Many people who think that they have carpal tunnel syndrome actually have moderate to severe neck degeneration with nerve irritation.

Good neck health is essential to good overall health.  How do you know if you or someone you know has neck problems?  Here are some simple things that you can watch for at home:

1) Can you turn your neck to the right and to the left equally and without pain or restriction? (normal rotation is nearly 90 degrees to the right and 90 degrees to the left, without moving the upper back to compensate)
2) How is side bending? You should be able to bend your neck to the side 45 degrees without pain or restriction. (some people will start to rotate or turn their necks to compensate. Make sure this is avoided in order to test true side bending ability)
3) Do you get headaches frequently? (headaches are often the result of neck problems)
4) Watch for signs of numbness or tingling or pain in the arms or hands.

Neck problems, if left uncorrected, only get worse. If you have any questions, or if you are unsure as to whether or not you are having spine problems in the neck or any other area, call my office, mention this blog post, and ask for a complimentary consultation and examination.

Keith Biggs, DC
therapeuticfoods.blogspot.com
eastmesachiropractor.com
biggschiropractic@gmail.com