Take Care Of Your Spine To Live Longer: Class 11 Biology Locomotion And Movement

Backache is a very common problem in the modern world. Eighty per cent of adults report backaches at least once in their lives. Spinal disorders can become chronic if the right medical attention is not paid to them. Neck and spinal cord disorders impact the lives of many by affecting their daily routines, as people are not able to accomplish even the simplest tasks. In some cases, these disorders may result in stress and even depression due to chronic pain and helplessness.

This Story also Contains

1. Spine: Definition And Importance
2. Spinal Problems And Potential Causes
3. What Can Help Keep The Spine Healthy?
4. How Can A Healthy Spine Ensure A Longer Life?

But why is this so? How are workload and sedentary lifestyles impacting the spine and giving rise to various disorders associated with them? What is a spine, and why is it so important? Let us find out everything in the next section.

Spine: Definition And Importance

What is supporting the complete body and its parts and allowing us to stand? It is the spine. A long bony structure, also known as the backbone (vertebral column), is the structural support of the body. Without it, one cannot stand, bend, or be flexible in any of these movements. Our good health is dependent on how good our spine health is.

Our spine is formed of vertebrates, and multiple nerves arise from it, each of which has specific functions. The three major divisions of the spinal column are cervical, thoracic, and lumbar, starting from top to bottom, respectively. So, our spine is a column of nerves that connect with every part of the body, especially the brain, so problems in the spine will affect the nerves, and the connected organ will be unable to function.

So, an active and healthy life is possible if one takes care of their spine.

Also read | Class 10 Science: Do We Consume Acids and Bases, Or Do They Form Inside The Body?

Spinal Problems And Potential Causes

The spine will undergo negative effects if it’s not used properly or abused. Many activities and actions can damage it, leading to musculoskeletal disorders and weakness. The neck and lower back are the most problematic areas, as they suffer the most from improper posture, excessive workload, poor lifestyle, and more. Some more factors degrading spine health are:

• Incorrect biomechanics

• Poor posture while working or sitting

• Less or as good as no mobility of the muscles

• Insufficient intake of nutrients required to keep the spine strong

• Sedentary lifestyle

• Sitting for extended hours without breaks

What Can Help Keep The Spine Healthy?

Good spine health is required to stay active and prevent any further musculoskeletal disorders in the body. Various problems, like excessive pressure on the nerves and vertebrae, can lead to pain and immobilisation of certain areas. This can turn chronic if the damage increases. Some tips that can help maintain a healthy spine are:

Watch Your Movements

It is extremely necessary that all the actions are performed with proper techniques like bending, lifting weights, and more. Bending the wrong way or lifting heavy weights without technique can damage the spine. So, it is necessary to watch for upper and lower back postures while performing intense movements.

Also read | Gene-Edited Foods And GMOs Safety Norms, Pros and Cons

Enough Sleep

Healing and repair occur during sleep, so it is important to get enough sleep to keep the spine healthy. The normal wear-and-tear of the spine that might have occurred due to daily tasks can be repaired, ensuring a healthy spine. It is advised to sleep on the side so that the spine does not suffer much pressure.

Leave That Sedentary Lifestyle Behind

An inactive lifestyle promotes the degeneration of the bones, thus affecting the spine's health to a large extent. Therefore, one must exercise and adopt an active lifestyle to keep the spine moving. The risks of lower back pain and neck pain decrease drastically if optimal exercise routines, stretching, and other strengthening activities are done. However, one must be careful about the injuries.

Weight

Extra weight puts pressure on the spine because there’s added weight on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. To reduce spinal strain, proper diets and exercises must be adopted to maintain optimal weight.

Other factors such as adequate hydration, limited smartphone usage, taking frequent breaks while working, and being attentive to posture can help maintain good spine health.

How Can A Healthy Spine Ensure A Longer Life?

As we learned, the spine supports the complete body by enabling the networking of the nerves, signalling to specific organs, and movement of the body. It protects the nervous system, and damage to it can affect vital organs. Not only older age, but misalignment and abuse of the spine can lead to the deterioration of the nervous system, which will impact the entire body. So, a healthy spine is the key to longevity.

Minor back and cervical pain must sound like small issues, but they can manifest as headaches, body aches, and more. So, start taking care of your spine, be mindful of your movements and posture, and seek medical attention regularly to ensure good spine health.

Also Read | Biological Neural Networks As An Inspiration For Artificial Intelligence