Optimal spinal alignment

There is very little evidence that slight misalignments of the spine are related to pain, and no evidence that they indicate an increased risk of future pain.  However, if you think back to what you learned about loading, doesn’t it make sense to make sure the load is well distributed?

Remember, if you have sustained or cumulative loading beyond the tissue’s capacity, it will eventually fail, and is likely to give you some mild pain before it does – remember bending your finger back?  The best response to this mild pain is to move, sit differently, vary your posture.

If you are a habitual slumper, you will exert a chronic strain on your tissues, increasing the risk of pain and eventual tissue damage.

Having optimal spinal posture is hard to achieve, but it ensures optimal distribution of load.  But varying your position is much more important, and training your back to cope with these different types of loading.  But if you want to optimise your loading, make sure to work on your foundation exercises – standing, sitting, and lying well. More on this to come.

Click here for Lesson 11 in the online course for lower back pain and sciatica.

Click here for Lesson 13 in the online course for lower back pain and sciatica.