Why You Need That Cervical Curve

You may not think about it as we do, but the natural curves that occur in the four different regions of your spinal column help to balance your body and prevent injury.

The curve that should be present in the upper part of the spinal column, called the cervical spine, is a lordodic curve. When viewed from the side, this is a forward curve.

Flamingo image.

Injury or uncorrected trauma can cause the cervical spine to straighten and lose this vital lordodic curve. This is known as cervical kyphosis and can progress to the point where a reverse curve is formed. Even a slight reduction in the normal lordodic curvature can produce subtle or more obvious health problems.

The causes of cervical kyphosis can include:
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Congenital Kyphosis that appears at birth
  • Trauma, such as whiplash from an auto accident
  • Injury from a medical procedure

Symptoms can range in severity from mild discomfort and headaches, to decreased range of motion in the neck and in the most severe cases, paralysis.

Neck pain may be common, but it’s not normal. If you’re experiencing any type of neck pain, please call our office to schedule a thorough examination. Chiropractors are specially trained to locate abnormalities in the spinal column and quite successful in restoring proper spinal curves. We’d love to help you or someone you know.

Dr. Michael  Asks some important questions of interest to Nixa residents - Chiropractor Nixa Dr. Michael Asks...

How could a child benefit from chiropractic?
Regardless of our age, each of us in Nixa encounters physical, chemical and emotional stresses that exceed our ability to handle. For newborns, it could be the trauma encountered at birth. For toddlers it could be from learning to walk or ride a bike. Many of the problems we chiropractors see in adults are the result of neglected traumas from childhood.
What's the difference between a "good" drug and a "bad" drug?
As a chiropractor, I see the use of drugs (legal or illegal) as merely symptom treating. Worse, virtually every drug produces unwanted effects. The only effects of chiropractic are positive effects. If you're a Nixa parent, consider carefully before giving your child a cough medication, cold remedy or pain reliever so this sort of question doesn't arise in the first place.