The Importance of Proper Alignment

What does alignment have to do with anything? This is a question that gets asked at least daily in our chiropractic practice. Our answer is simple; alignment has to do with everything. We realize this may sound like a bit of an exaggeration, but hang tight and we will explain. Structural alignment is imperative to overall health, well being, and optimal function, and here’s why.

Alignment is a big deal in all walks of life. Think of your car.

• When you go and get your oil changed, often times they will rotate your tires and do an “alignment”. A vehicle with improper alignment is a malfunctioning and sometimes dangerous vehicle, not only to itself but also to others on the road. When the alignment is improper, the wheels will jiggle, the car will veer, and worse case scenario the car can easily get into an accident causing much further damage.

Where else is alignment important?

• The teeth. More and more we see children and adults working on the alignment of their teeth, whether it be by braces or retainers. The dentist and orthodontist stress the importance of aligning the teeth, not only for aesthetics but also for proper jaw health. When the teeth are misaligned, it can cause a number of problems leading to overcrowding, cavities, and TMJ issues. With proper alignment, your risk for these things goes down.

• How about properly aligned beams in a skyscraper? One can imagine what a misalignment in the structure of any building can cause. On the small end there might be some creaky floors and squeaky windows, on the larger end there could be a building collapse, simply because things weren’t put together properly. It’s not that all the pieces aren’t there, it’s that they weren’t placed where they should’ve been exactly.

Why would alignment in the spine be any less important?

• There is a standard curvature for each turn of our spine, and when one of these is lessened or increased, the spine is misaligned. The same can be said for those with a scoliosis. By definition this is a severe structural misalignment, and when it surpasses a certain threshold (40 degrees in most cases) surgery is often required. When the spine is misaligned the organs can be affected, the immune system might give an altered response, and the nervous system can go absolutely haywire.

Visiting a structurally based chiropractor is the first step in regaining proper alignment for your spine. We focus so much on the symptoms that we often lose sight of those things we cannot see. The spine is one of the most neglected areas of the body. When we have crooked teeth, we visit a dentist. When our car is wobbling, we visit the autoshop. When our house is tilted, we visit a realtor or call an engineer. All of these things are easy to spot and we correct them. Why then do we ignore one of the most important? The spine’s alignment is just as important as your Chevy’s wheels, do yourself a favor and make an appointment to get it addressed.