Back Pain

Human posture and mobility are dependent the 24 cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae that make the movement segments of our spinal column into a single functional unit.

In order to enable the movements of the spinal column, the 24 vertebrae elements of the neck, thoracic and lumbar spinal column must be connected with one another. These segments make joints out of two adjacent vertebral bones. Located anteriorly, i.e. towards the center of the body, is a part of the vertebra known as the vertebral body, which is connected by ligaments. Between the two vertebral bodies are the intervertebral discs, which are filled with jelly type substance. These discs dampen and separate the thick, round vertebrae bones from each other.

Posterior to spinal canal there are firmly connected bony protrusion of vertebrae known as the spinal processes. One can even feel the spinal processes by softly running two fingers along the back bone. Most clearly felt is the spinal process of the seventh cervical vertebrae. This vertebra juts so clearly out of the spinal column that it is the named Vertebra Prominens.

On both sides of the spinal process, branching from the vertebral body, are paired transverse processes with special tasks. For example, the branches in thoracic spinal column have a flexible connection with the ribs, which are connected to the vertebral body. The bulge of the lower vertebral process fits with the upper portion of vertebral arch , similar to head and pan of other body joints.

The entire movement segment is held together of ligaments, tendons and muscles. A distinct ligament network connects the vertebrae, others skip over the spinal disks of a vertebrae to the vertebra. The stopping ligaments stretch yet prevent overextended bending, which could damage the spinal column.

• Muscles, tendons and ligaments of the spinal column would wither without use. The human is not created for permanent rest and inactivity, especially not for hour long sitting (for your job, driving, television). Work is not injurious, but work processes are injurious.
• Every job has a posture or movement, which can become injurious, if it is carried out daily for hours without relaxing countermeasures. Change is important. For example running, lying, sitting, walking, carrying, bowing bending stretching, calisthenics should be performed at the job, for a healthy spinal column (see Isometrics).
• Correct body posture and varied sports activities during childhood and youth create important prerequisites for the loading capacity of the spinal column. At the same time it is important, for the parents to set an example of correct posture for the their children to model.
• Extended psychological traumas lead to posture injuries. During all of one’s life, one needs recognition, care and the experiences of success in his work life and relationships. Otherwise, he will drop his head and possibly slouch.
• Activities must be adapted to the one's own needs and wishes. This is not always possible due to the demands of professional duties. Therefore, everyone must seek one’s own balancing activities for one’s own activities.

The spinal discs lie between two vertebrae and therefore are designated as intervertebral discs. One can easily imagine these discs as pillow cushions, which have a cover of firm connective tissue in close interweaved fibrous layers. This pillow cushion is firmly connected with the under lying vertebral body.

The filling of the core through the fibrous annulus is an indispensable task within the moving segments.

Body weight, loading, movements and impacts on the spinal column are distributed by the spinal discs uniformly among the vertebrae. Otherwise, it would result in an overload of the vertebrae and lead to a vertebral breaks.

The jelly-like core works as a ball joint. When bending forward, backward or side to side the jelly mass gets out of the way of the motion and extends to the expanding side and transfers the pressure and load to the firm part of the annulus.

Each spinal disc is about one-quarter as thick as the accompanying vertebrae. In long-term loads, core fluid of the vertebral discs is squeezed through the firm fiber ring into the blood and lymphatic systems, therefore the spinal disc decreases its fluid content and becomes narrower. That is especially the case during hour long sitting or while carrying heavy loads. If lying, especially during the load-free night's sleep, the spinal discs reabsorb fluid again and are filled up tightly in the morning. These processes are measurable. In the mornings we are two to three centimeters taller than evenings. Uniform release and resumption of fluids are needed for a healthy metabolism of the spinal discs and provide for the nourishment for the total spinal disk.

Increasing age causes a slow deteriorization of the intervertebral discs, like in many other tissues. Loss of disc fluid causes the discs to be of less height than when it was younger. Age is responsible for the atrophy of the spinal discs and the reason why older people are shorter than they were in their youth.