The back is one of the most important parts of our body. The spine, along with the spinal cord and all of the muscles, ligaments, and tissue in the surrounding area makes up our back. Combined with the brain, the spinal cord makes up our central nervous system and is the gateway for messages sent from our brain to the other parts of our body. Without it, we would not be able to move or function on our own. That’s why in today’s blog, your East Stroudsburg chiropractic treatment center is offering up nine interesting facts about this vital part of the body!
9 Facts About The Back
- Most people know that babies are born with extra bones that will fuse as they grow older. But did you know that many of these bones are in the spine? While we are born with 33 vertebrae, four of them fuse together to create the tailbone and five more fuse to create the sacrum, leaving adults with 26 moveable vertebrae.
- There are over 13.5 million neurons in the spinal cord! These neurons, or nerve cells, are responsible for transmitting signals to and from the brain, as well as to and from other parts of the body. These neurons are how our bodies know to move, react, and feel — and just one of the reasons why spinal health is so vital.
- Upwards of 80 percent of adults will experience back pain that requires more than just some Advil to help. Thankfully, very few back pain problems require surgery, and chiropractic treatment, massage, corrective exercise, and physiotherapy, all of which we offer here at Marshalls Creek, can help alleviate back pain.
- Humans have seven cervical vertebrae (vertebrae in our necks). While the average human neck length is about four inches, giraffes (who also only have seven cervical vertebrae) average a whopping six-foot neck!
- October 16th is World Spine Day – a day dedicated to raising awareness about spinal health and wellness. This year’s theme is #LoveYourSpine, and participants are encouraged to share ways that they care for their back health on social media.
- There’s a reason Grandma might look a little shorter every time you see her! As we age, the cushioning discs between each vertebra shrink and compress. Though there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to shrinkage, most people lose about a quarter to half an inch of height every decade after the age of forty.
- Speaking of shrinking, the opposite can also happen. For example, most people are just a tad taller in the morning than at night, as their spines have had time to lengthen while sleeping. Astronauts, on the other hand, can return from a stint in space roughly 3% taller than when they left thanks to plenty of time spent without gravity pressing down on their spines.
- The spine is incredibly flexible. In fact, if you didn’t have any muscles or tendons holding your spine in place, you could bend your spine two-thirds of the way into a circle. So, if you can’t touch your toes, it’s most likely because of inflexible muscles and not your actual spine.
- The back contains about 120 muscles and 220 ligaments, which help you to bend and twist your spine as needed.
Want To Know More? Contact Your Chiropractors!
The chiropractors at Marshalls Creek can give you more information about your back than we could ever fit into a blog. If you are experiencing back pain, are looking for preventative treatment, or are simply curious about the state of your back, back sure to schedule an appointment to see one of our East Stroudsburg chiropractors at Marshalls Creek Wellness Solutions!