Antalgia! We have all seen this and some of us unfortunately have experienced it. So what exactly is an antalgic spine and what causes it? As the picture demonstrates, the spine takes on an abnormal curve. There are a variety of things that can initiate this, ranging from trying to lift something heavy to simply rolling over in bed. To say the least, it can be very frustrating. Not only is it unsightly but also very painful.
So what causes our spine to become antalgic? The simple explanation for this is weakness of the spinal muscles. Specifically the (paravertebral) muscles located on either side of the spine. This weakness allows more of the load of your body weight to be transferred away from the boney structures of the spine to the soft tissues around the spine. Specifically the disc.
A disc is made up of two parts. The ball like center is called the nucleus. Wrapping around the nucleus, in concentric rings, is a ligamentous structure called the annulus. By design, the disc allows the vertebra to tip on one another. This tipping allows us to bend in all directions.
Imagine watching two kids on a teeter-totter. When one goes up the other goes down. What allows this to occur is a center pivot point or fulcrum. The nucleus does the exact same thing, it allows the vertebra to tip or teeter on the other. When you bend to the right the nucleus actually shifts to the left in each disc. This causes a wedging of the disc. When you straighten back up the nucleus migrates back to the center.
The spine becomes antalgic when the nucleus does not migrate back to the center position. Within a short period of time the muscles that surround that area go into spasm which inturn causes more pain.
Correcting the problem requires isolating where it is occurring and then a series of spinal adjustments to reposition or center the nucleus. Once recentered, exercises are provided to strengthen the paravertebral musculature to prevent future occurrance.
I hope this has been helpful. If you should have a question or would like to make a comment please do so at the bottom of the page.
Many people sleep on older mattresses. By definition, your mattress is older if it is between 8 and 10 years old. Over time your mattress loses its ability to properly support your body. Like many things, this happens slowly over time, so we rarely notice it. What we do notice however, is we are not sleeping soundly or we wake up feeling stiff and in some cases in pain.
The typical older mattress causes what I call “hammocking” of your body. Imagine what your body would look like laying in a hammock. Your feet and head are higher than your bottom. Lying like this for several hours can cause a variety of things to happen to the spine. In your lower back it causes the forward curve of the spine to flatten out. This in-turn causes the spinal joints in your lower back to spread apart, in many cases causing muscle spasm to occur.
If you suffer from back pain it may be due to your mattress and box-springs. Check to see if your mattress has lost its ability to support your body weight. Have someone stand at the side of the bed while you lay in the center of the mattress on your back. Ask them if you are hammocking. If so, it’s time to shop for a new mattress and box-spring.
People always ask me what is the best type of mattress and box-spring. I always tell them that it is a very individual thing. You can spend several hundred, to several thousands of dollars on a mattress and box-springs and find yourself very dissatisfied after several nights of use. Just remember, all mattresses and box-springs have pros & cons.
What you are looking for is a mattress that is both comfortable and offers adequate spinal support. In the majority of cases, a medium to firm mattress with a pillow top usually does the trick.
When you are shopping go to a variety of stores. Don’t be in a hurry and do not allow the salesman to sell you, allow your spine to tell you. When you lay on a mattress and your body and spine go Ahhhhhhh! You know you have found a good one.
As a physician, I find it interesting how often people complain about their normal aches and pains. What is more interesting is how people, young people in many instances, have acclimated to these “so called” normal aches and Pains. The truth is, there is no such thing as normal aches and pains. Aches and pains are not normal. They are an indicator that something is wrong and that changes need to be made.
Living with pain not only zaps the joy out of your life but also prevents you from engaging in activities that you love. Living with chronic pain is like being handcuffed, leaving you feeling limited and frustrated.
If you are suffering with chronic pain and have never tried Chiropractic, now is your chance. Chiropractic seeks to correct the cause of your ache or pain. Did you know taking pain medication does absolutely nothing to correct the “cause” of your problem? It merely masks the pain allowing the problem to go unchecked.
So let’s find out what’s causing your pain and then work on fixing it. Life is too short to live pain.
Autism, is historically defined as a neurological condition that impairs communication and socialization skills in varying degrees of severity, is stealing away children in frightening numbers. An estimated 1 in 150 children are being diagnosed with this serious medical condition that the American Academy of Pediatrics now considers “epidemic”.
When given this diagnosis, parents are confronted with a plethora of options. Many of the options are based on their pediatrician’s understanding of the disorder and belief in the “possibility” of recovery. The good news is, some children do recover. Each child seems to have to find his or her own road. Remember, all journeys begin with a single step. Below is a short video clip taken from a Documentary titled “Finding the Words.” I hope you will find it both Inspiring and Educational.
If after reading through my website, you find you are looking for something different, below are the names of other chiropractors in my same geographical area.
Dr. Wolfgang Strobel - 9758 Kenwood Road – 513-891-9600
Dr. Ronald Fudala - 10550 Montgomery Road – 513-791-6400
Dr. Elizabeth Clark – 4434 Carver Woods Drive – 513-489-9515
Dr. Carolyn Anderson – 9707 Montgomery Road – 513-793-6104
Dr. Rebecca Ulsh – 9200 Montgomery Road – 513-791-1888
Dr. Terry McDowell - 10428 Kenwood Road – 513-791-6766
Dr. Jack Armstrong – 4434 Carver Woods Drive – 513-489-9515
Dr. John Musser – 9879 Montgomery Road – 513-936-8200
Antalgia! We have all seen this and some of us unfortunately have experienced it. So what exactly is an antalgic spine and what causes it? As the picture demonstrates, the spine takes on an abnormal curve. There are a variety of things that can initiate this, ranging from trying to lift something heavy to simply rolling over in bed. To say the least, it can be very frustrating. Not only is it unsightly but also very painful.
Many people sleep on older mattresses. By definition, your mattress is older if it is between 8 and 10 years old. Over time your mattress loses its ability to properly support your body. Like many things, this happens slowly over time, so we rarely notice it. What we do notice however, is we are not sleeping soundly or we wake up feeling stiff and in some cases in pain.
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