There is a saying in the world of chiropractic, "Your spine is the window to your health." How can the condition of your spine divulge so much information about your overall health? Your spine is the central support column of your body and its primary role is to protect your spinal cord. Think of it like the foundational frame of a house holding everything together. If the frame becomes dysfunctional, many problems will begin to manifest themselves.

The good news is you can perform a simple spinal health checklist to determine if you may benefit from the expert intervention of a chiropractor or other health care professional. Becoming familiar with simple spinal anatomy, structure and function will help empower you to take control of your health.

Through life's stresses, genetics, trauma, injuries, and neglect the spine can develop dysfunctions in these curvatures and the body must compensate by changing posture as a protective mechanism. What are some of the compensations your body develops and what can they tell you about your spinal health? Here are a few of the most common ones:

Rounded Shoulders: This is a very common postural distortion resulting from sedentary lifestyles. This poor posture pattern adds increased stress to the upper back and neck. Common effects are headaches, shoulder, pain, neck pain, and even tingling and numbness in the arms.

Uneven shoulders: One shoulder higher than the other is indicative of a muscular imbalance or spinal curvature. Stand in front of a mirror and you can easily see if this asymmetry is present. This asymmetry is a common precursor for shoulder injuries, headaches, neck pain and elbow injuries.

Uneven hips: Hips that are not level are like the foundation of a house that is not level. You begin to develop compensations further up the body so you remain balanced when walking. You develop altered spinal curvatures, shoulder positions, and head tilts. Signs of unbalanced hips may manifest in abnormal shoe wear, typically on the outside edges; and pants will fit unevenly in the leg length.

When you visit a chiropractor for a spinal evaluation, some of the things they will look for during your evaluation are underlying signs of spinal damage that you can't see. If problems are detected, corrective or preventive measures can be implemented to help your body function at optimum. The bottom line: See your chiropractor today to avoid health problems in the future.

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