Monday, April 25, 2011

Curvylicious?

It is a regular occurrence for us that a new client will come into the studio with deep worry lines on their face because someone has told them that their spine “curves at the top and at the bottom”. Sometimes there are even technical terms thrown about that make it sound so much worse, such as “I have a lordosis”. What do we do when we are faced with this situation? Reassure that person that this is a good thing!



A normal spine should have an even 30-35 degree curve along your upper back where your ribcage is. It should also have another curve of 30-35 degrees, this time curving inwards, in your low back. With the bad posture that comes with spending too many hours sitting at a desk or in the car the curves in most people’s backs start to change slightly. The one at the top of the back gets a little greater, the low back gets a little flatter. When it is only happening a little bit and your back stays mobile so you are able to still straighten up if you want to then it is no problem. Once you start to look like Quasimodo you will probably be feeling very uncomfortable, not be able to do the things you used to and may have health issues as well. 



Most people never get to this stage. When you come in for a postural and biomechanics assessment or a stretching assessment we measure both what the curves in your spine are when standing and how much you are able to move. That way we can detect any potential problems early before you even know about them. The stretches used to correct spinal curves are very simple and most people find them really pleasant to do, they can loosen your back up and make you feel human again after long hours at a desk! 



If you would like us to check out your curvy back give us a call!

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