Your sleeping position is one of the most overlooked factors in spinal health. During sleep, the body works to restore and repair itself, and the position you sleep in can either help or hinder that process. It’s very common to wake up with low back pain, neck pain, or stiffness simply because of how you…
The human spine is one of the most important structures in the body. It gives us structural support and integrity, allowing us to stand, move, bend and twist while performing countless everyday tasks. The spine is also designed to protect the spinal cord – the column of nerves that connects the brain with the rest…
Movement is one of the simplest and most powerful things you can do for both your body and your brain. Regular physical activity supports memory and thinking, lifts mood, and is associated with a lower risk of depression (Neural Plast, 2020; PMID 33414823; JAMA Psychiatry, 2022; PMID 35416941). It even has measurable benefits as a…
If you have ever had nagging back, neck, or knee pain, your first instinct was probably to blame the part that hurts. It feels logical: sore back, focus on the back. But the body does not work in isolated pieces. The ankle bone really is connected to the knee bone, and a problem in one…
Almost everyone has been told to sit up straight, stop slouching, or quit looking down at their phone. The moment someone mentions it, we snap into what we imagine is good posture: head up, shoulders back, stomach tight. A few minutes later we drift right back. It turns out that much of what we believe…
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people see a doctor, yet many people end up frustrated, bouncing between providers or being told simply to live with it. Knowing who to see, and when, can make the difference between a quick recovery and months of unnecessary discomfort. The reassuring news is that most…
If you’re dealing with back pain – or any spine-related issue – it helps to understand the anatomy and function of the spine so you can narrow down what might be happening. Most of the problems that lead to back pain and disability have little to do with disease. That isn’t to say that cancer,…
If you’re reading this, you’ve likely dealt with back or neck pain, or you want to understand how your spine works so you can help prevent future episodes. Many patients say their previous doctors never really explained what was happening – they had X-rays, MRIs and CT scans without ever understanding the findings. The more…
Sitting feels like a way to rest, but if you already have back pain, long periods of sitting can make it worse rather than better. For certain spine conditions, the seated position increases stress on the structures of the lower back, which is why so many people notice their pain flares after a long stretch…
Every day, many men, women, and children feel the effects of forward head posture without knowing the source or how to address it. Forward head posture, and the spinal misalignment that often comes with it, can take a real toll on how you feel. It often starts subtly, with a little extra tension behind the…
