Your sciatic nerve is the main nerve supplying your leg. This large nerve leaves your spinal cord in your lower back and passes between the bones (vertebrae) of your spine. Pinching (compression) of the nerve where it passes between the spinal vertebrae is the usual cause of sciatica. Compression is … Read More
According to the National Institutes of Health National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), spinal adjustment or manipulation is usually done by a chiropractor. It is done by hand or by a device to place a sudden thrust on a joint of the spine, causing it to move more … Read More
No one seems to know how the phrase “throwing your back out” originated, but almost everyone knows what it means: You’ve injured your back and it really hurts. When you yell out "threw out my back!” you’ll know the pain immediately. There will be a sharp, severe pain, usually in … Read More
The best one-size-fits-all class for flexibility is an aerobic exercise group class. The ultimate goal is aerobic (cardiovascular) fitness, but instructors and their students have to go through warm-up and flexibility exercises before getting to the aerobic component. If you are a beginner or older adult not used to regular … Read More
What is spinal stenosis? It's a condition in which the spinal canal narrows due to: A herniated disc that encroaches on the spinal canal from the front Thickened ligaments that encroach on the canal from both sides. A narrowed spinal canal impedes the blood supply to the nerves, causing pain. … Read More
A pinched nerve is a nerve under abnormal pressure—a compressed nerve. The pressure can come from adjacent bones or soft tissues such as tendons, ligaments, muscles, or cartilage. When that happens, the brain sends a signal that causes pain, weakness, or a numb feeling. But what are the most common … Read More
Back pain is normally in your lower back and may cause muscle spasms. But when is back pain serious? A back pain red-flag warning is when the pain is intense, spreads down one or both legs, causes weakness or numbness, or follows a fall or a blow to your back. … Read More
Just about everyone experiences low back pain at some point. You might strain your back while lifting, twist the wrong way, or sit or sleep in an awkward position. The good news is that you probably can find relief without surgery or other invasive treatments—and maybe even without medications. In … Read More
The term spondylosis means degeneration of the spine. The word sounds ominous, but the condition affects just about everyone as they age and as the spine goes the through the wear and tear of daily activities. Spondylosis is also a “catch-all” term because spinal degeneration takes various forms. It might … Read More
Your vertebral discs are the small, doughnut-shaped objects located between each of the vertebrae in your spine. Healthy discs provide cushioning between your vertebrae and allow for proper movement and bending of your spine. The discs also keep the openings in the vertebrae through which nerves exit the spinal canal—the … Read More
