The reasons are bottomless, but let’s boil it down to the most important few:

• Injury prevention: core stability, influenced by the deeper-lying postural muscles, is the foundation upon which all other components of health should be built. A solid, stable core will keep your body and spine resilient to injury from all movements. 
• Spinal longevity: your core muscles are the most important asset you have in preventing back pain and combating spinal degeneration.
• Protecting your nervous system: your spinal cord is your central command center, the highway upon which the nervous system communicates. A strong core mitigates the compression that puts your spine under pressure and disrupts the nervous system.
• Look better: an upright posture projects confidence and confidence is sexy. 

How you can start strengthening your core in this very moment

Pull your belly button inward and upward and roll your shoulders back and down, look straight ahead and take a deep breath. This simple action resets your posture- now the trick is to try and maintain that look despite all the work you have ahead. The more we can maintain this posture, the less likely our spine will fall victim of the degeneration that comes with working at a desk with poor posture. One way to make this easier is to focus on strengthening and stretching the core stabilizing muscles, made up of postural and phasic muscles, which are discussed here. If you are interested in strengthening your core, whether it be to account for back pain or to prevent it, give our office a call and let’s put together a dynamic healing and strengthening plan together.

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Your core is the foundation of musculoskeletal wellness. Most movements you undertake on a daily basis originate in the core, or at least utilize it in some manner. The core forms a link between the upper and lower body and weakness in this crucial center link underpins a lot of musculoskeletal dysfunction that can lead to immobility, pain and degeneration, especially in the spine. The spine can be used to stabilize the spine and transfer forces across the body from the smallest acts such as bending over to tie your shoes to bigger acts such as the heavy lifting involved in construction work. Let’s take a closer look at one of the most important muscles of the core and how paying attention to it can prevent back pain. 

The transversus abdominis is one of the most important muscles for core stability

The transversus abdominis is the innermost of the four abdominal muscles and its location makes it key for spinal stability. It acts like a girdle, wrapping horizontally from the back to the front on each side of the body; and the two sides are connected by a fascial sheet allowing them to function as one solid muscle. It is thought that weakness and dysfunction in the transversus abdominis is an indicative component of lower back pain and thus, maintaining its strength is a key way to manage lower back pain. 

Core stability as part of a holistic healthcare plan for your spine at Holmes Chiropractic

There is a reason why most exercise regimes for treating back pain begin with the core. At Holmes Chiropractic, we can show you how to unlock the power of your core when it comes to beating back pain. If you are interested in finding out more about chiropractic and core health, and how it can benefit you, give our office a call to schedule an appointment today.

The post Muscles that Matter Most for Core Stability appeared first on Dr. Randall Holmes.

But surprisingly few people are able to take advantage of their core when it comes to supporting the lower back. Think about your core and what it means to you: is it just an ambiguous mass of muscle in the middle of your body; or is it a dynamic set of muscle groups that work together to stabilize the lower back, sharing the burden of weight and preventing injury to vertebrae and muscles in the lumbar region? At Holmes Chiropractic, we hope it is the latter; and if not, we can help you turn your core into a lower back stabilizing aid that will benefit you throughout your lifetime. 

Core mechanics begins with learning how to “engage your core”

How many times have you read those words and not bothered to investigate any further? For most people, engaging the core involves contracting the muscles of their stomach and nothing more. But it is slightly more technical than this. First, you need to find the transversus abdominus:

• Place two fingers on your hip bones
• Move them 1 inch in toward belly button
• 1 inch downward toward the feet

This is one of the key muscle groups of your core; it is the deepest and is involved in any motion that compresses the abdomen. As such, it is a vital muscle group for stabilizing bodily movement, maintaining good posture, aligning the body and preventing back pain. 

It’s time you started using your core to your advantage. If you are interested in finding out more about building the core as a stabilizing force in your life, give our office in Houston a call to schedule an appointment today. 

The post The Vital Element of Spinal Longevity is Your Core appeared first on Dr. Randall Holmes.

Chiropractic adjustment seeks to apply a controlled force to a spinal joint in order to move it back into alignment with the rest of the spine, thus alleviating compression from nearby nerves, correcting the body’s physical function and structural alignment and balancing the muscles in the back. Many people find that they experience significantly less pain and enjoy a greater range of motion immediately after a chiropractic adjustment. By alleviating nerve compression and aligning the spine, significant improvements are made in a person’s range of motion and, thus, flexibility. But what happens when you leave the office? 

Maintaining the forward progress that comes from chiropractic adjustments

Although we’d like to, we can’t keep an eye on your spine at all times. Here are steps you can take to make sure you don’t undo the gains of a visit to the chiropractor:

• Making good decisions: before you get into the car to drive home, take a 5 minute walk around the block to feel the adjustment. Avoid strenuous physical exercise in the hours immediately following an adjustment. We want your body to ease into this new position. 
• Exercising: focus especially on the muscles of the lower back and core. 
• Drinking water: the intervertebral discs of your spine are mostly composed of water and need regular hydration, so maintaining their health is heavily dependent on your water intake. 

After a chiropractic adjustment, it is up to you to continue the upward trajectory toward feeling better

But we won’t leave you in the wild without a compass; instead, we put the tools in your hand, including recommendations on exercise, nutrition and posture. If you are interested in using chiropractic to improve the state of your spine and revolutionize your health, give our office in Houston a call to schedule an appointment today. 

The post After the Adjustment: Taking Care of your Spine appeared first on Dr. Randall Holmes.