Warning Signs of an Unhealthy Spine

Symptoms such as headache, neck or back pain, numbness, tingling or other health problems can often be caused by spinal misalignments (called "subluxations"). These misalignments can be caused by ordinary movements or by intense trauma to the spine (such as a car accident or other injury). Because these misaligned vertebrae can affect the function of the spinal cord and nervous system, it is vital that the spine be checked for misalignments.

Symptoms of spinal misalignment include:

___ Your heels wear out unevenly.

___ You have headaches, back aches, neck pain, stiffness or soreness in muscles or joints.

___ Your foot flares out when walking.

___ You are often fatigued, have poor concentration, low resistance to disease or infection.

___ You can't turn your head or hips equally to either side.

___ You feel stiff getting out of bed each morning.

Many spinal misalignments give NO warning signs, like a cavity before it become painful. Even though you can't feel them, they can adversly affect your health. Below are some checks that may reveal spinal misalignments BEFORE they become painful.

 Here are some simple tests you can do at home to see if your spine has any misalignments:

POSTURE CHECK

Stand on a hard surface with eyes closed and "march in place" 2 or 3 steps, then stop. With eyes still closed, slowly "nod" head 2 or 3 times, as if looking at the floor and then the ceiling. (Stop if uncomfortable.) With eyes still closed, stand upright with your weight evenly distributed on both feet. Have someone check that the following points are directly lined up vertically: between your eyes, your nose, your chin, between your collarbones, your bellybutton.

Now turn sideways, and check that the following points are directly lined up vertically: ear, shoulder, hip bone, ankle.

Other indications that there is spinal malfunction include: low shoulder on one side, uneven skirt hemline, unequal pant leg length, uneven wearing down of shoe heels.

LEG CHECK

Have the person being tested wear hard-soled shoes and lie face down on a bed with the feet hanging over the edge. Arms should be resting at each side, and face should be centered. Grasp both feet equally, and check to see if one leg appears shorter. Test further by bending both legs at the knees and compare again. A short leg is an indication of many types of spinal problems.

OTHER

Even if you do not have the signs listed above, your spine may still have "hidden" misalignments (subluxations). A chiropractic exam (including range of motion and other orthopedic, neurological and chiropractic tests) will reveal if you have any spinal misalignments.