Ask anyone about
what comes to mind when he or she hears the term ‘back pain’. Most will answer ‘low
back pain’, and for the more anatomically informed, ‘lumbar pain’. That's no
surprise because its location at the lower half of the spinal column bears the
weight of the upper vertebrae. On top of that, it also bears the weight of
lifting and twisting.
The lumbar column
consists of five bones, labeled L1 to L5. Its name comes from the Latin word ‘lumbus’,
meaning ‘lion’, for its strength and flexibility—both of which are
characteristics often seen in its animal namesake.
A lot of things happen
in the lumbar spine. For example, between T12 and L1, the spinal cord branches
out into smaller tributary nerves called cauda equina, Latin for ‘horse tail’. Thanks
to the cauda equina, the risk of paralysis as a result of a slipped disc is low
in a lumbar spinal injury. However, since these nerves control movement of the
lower limbs, a car accident resulting in an injury in this area of the spine can
render said limbs unusable.
Spinal
manipulation around the lumbar spine will not only restore homeostasis but also
improve mobility as the nerves in this area are wired to the muscles that allow
lower body movement.
No comments:
Post a Comment