So often we hear about the importance of back alignment. How the spine, muscles, and every little bone should be exactly in their designated area … and nowhere else. In fact, such alignment is something we write about on a regular basis. Proper back setup and how it can make or break your pain regimen. But why exactly is the back so important? And just what can take place when it's not set up properly?

The adult body is made up of more than 600 muscles, a large portion of which sit in the back or run through it. As for bones, each person has 33 vertebrae helping make up the spine, which doesn't include shoulder blades, hips, or any other bone affecting the back. Really, there's a lot of pieces that can get in the way – of each other, and of the overall goal in keeping the body in its proper setup. If any one of those sections is "off," it can affect everything around it, adding inflammation, or simply putting weight where it's not meant to be. And carry those problems down into the legs.

But how much damage can such misalignment really cause? According to medical professionals and ongoing research, a little to a lot. Depending on what's out of place and what side effects they're causing, for instance, weight sitting on an inflamed nerve, or bones that rub together, perhaps excess pressure on the sciatic nerve –

A back that's out of whack can do any level of damage. At best, there are minimal pains or aches and pains. And at its worst, patients are laid up, faced with multiple surgeries and have a difficult time locating a cause.

Essentially, the entire back works together. Muscles do their part, nerves theirs, and so on. When one of those team players falls out of line, they no longer work efficiently. Someone is left to pick up the slack. This can mean forcing body parts to take on roles they were not created to do, weakening them very quickly and actually affecting their original role. In this case, there are two sections of pain, with a single cause. Yet the second injury might be harder felt – because the body part is doing its volunteer job first and its original second (if only by way of location) we look at it to be the cause.

Others are lucky when this takes place, while some deal with chronic back pains throughout the entirety of their lifetime.

Preventative Measures

The best way to keep misalignment from causing injuries is to ensure everything stays in its proper spot to begin with. This can be done by visiting a physical therapist, chiropractor, or massage therapist. These medical and body professionals can identify where the body is out of place, help you put it back together, and recommend exercises or movements to help keep it that way. Specialty products, such as support pillows or mattress toppers can also help you stay aligned. By allowing the body to self-heal while sleeping, patients can ensure they're keeping everything in place. This is especially important during sleep, as it's the easiest time to have bad posture, simply from becoming comfortable and settling in.

By understanding everything that can go wrong from back or bone misalignment, it becomes even more clear as to why we need to keep everything in its designated area. If you think you might be suffering from misalignment or are ready to start on preventative measures, take a look at Contour's support products or schedule a talk with your medical professional.