Everett chiropractor, chiropractor in Everett, WA

Initial side view of the cervical spine shows a 65 % loss of the normal cervical curve (lordosis). This finding is extremely common due the todays sedentary lifestyles- that is, postures through out the day that encourage a flexed forward and head down position, such as sitting, driving, computer use, reading etc. Throw in a car accident or two, various other injuries and the fact that the normal lateral curves of the spine may have never fully developed during the first year of life and you have the typical presentation to your left.

These lateral (side) curves give the spine strength and help the body resist gravitational forces. Loss of these spinal curves mean that the normal function of the spine has been altered and that the spine is no longer able to resist gravity properly without abnormal stress on the joints, muscles and ligaments. It also reveals significant weakness in the postural muscles of the body. These muscles maintain proper posture and the spinal curves.

Loss of these curves also stretches the spinal cord. Tension on the spinal cord affects the communication between the brain and the body. If the brain messages are unable to pass uninhibited through the spinal cord to the organs, muscles and cells of the body, these tissues will become weak leading to dis-ease in the body.

Loss of the cervical curve causes the head to move forward over the center of gravity of the body. We refer to this as forward head posture. For every 1 inch of forward head posture the weight of the head can weight twice as much due to the change in leverage. It is not uncommon to measure forward head postures of 2 inches or more! How would you like to carry around a 30lb. head all day!!

In addition, this increased load on the joints can cause the development of degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) in hight stress areas of the spine.

This type of presentation can manifest itself in a variety of symptoms. Common complaints include: Headaches, neck pain and stiffness, shoulder and arm pain and numbness, fatigue, head feeling of heaviness, allergies, ear and visual problems, upper and lower back pain. Other systems of the body can be affected as well such as digestive and respiratory dysfunction. Try taking a deep breath with your head protruded forward and your shoulders rolling in toward your chest!

The second xray shows the same patient approximately 8 weeks later with now a 34% cervical curve loss. Also the amount of forward head posture had been reduced from 35mm to 13mm. This patients spine is now in a much more functional position, less injury prone and less likey to develop degenerative arthritis. Treatment received included spinal adjustments, cervical traction, home and office active postural strengthening exercises and spinal molding exercises.

38 year old male with original lumbar curve loss of 112%.

Post x-ray 43% loss.