Arachnoiditis is a painful condition that causes inflammation of the arachnoid, one of the membranes that envelops and protects spinal nerves. This condition usually affects the lower back and legs, often causing painful spasms, numbness or...
Opening the spine with gentle stretching exercises can alleviate many of the problems associated with tightness in the spine, including issues with energy, mobility and strength. If you experience back pain, consult with your doctor before...
Spinal stenosis is a condition that is a result of the narrowing of the spinal canal. Spinal stenosis can become painful to the point that it becomes difficult to move. The Spine Universe website suggests those with spinal stenosis should continue...
Because of complex interactions between the spinal column and the nervous system, disk injuries may cause arm and hand pain. The spinal column is composed of 33 bones known as vertebrae. Each vertebra is stacked on top of the other and divided...
The human spinal column is made up of a number of bones called vertebrae. These contain nerves that help carry and receive signals throughout the body. If the spinal cord is injured due to fracture, the vertebrae sustain a small crack, which can...
The spinal column is composed of vertebrae and disks, which are between the vertebrae. Spinal disks act as shock absorbers for the spine and allow flexibility in the spinal column during movement. At times, a disk may be herniated, which means...
Spinal stenosis is characterized by the narrowing of the spinal cord or the narrowing of the neural foramina, which are the openings in the spinal column where spinal nerves travel out of the spinal column. When these areas of the spinal column...
MayoClinic.com describes a disc as the cushioning between the vertebrae in the spinal column. These discs have a hard outer layer and a soft inner layer. Doctors consider these discs herniated when a part of the inner layer pushes itself out...
Degenerative disc disease refers to the way that the vertebrae around the spinal column deteriorate due to age, with the discs losing their ability to flex and absorb motion shock, according to NeckSurgery.com. As a result of this deterioration,...
The spinal column is composed of 33 small bones called vertebrae that are aligned vertically along the center of the back. Spinal column trauma or injury can cause small cracks or fractures within one or more vertebrae. People who develop spinal...
The bones of the spinal column, also called vertebrae, run down the length of the back and connect the skull to the pelvis. The vertebrae serve as protection for the nerves in the central nervous system that form the spinal column. Between each...
Your spinal cord runs through the center of your spinal column, which consists of the three portions: cervical, thoracic and lumbar areas. Keeping all three areas flexible through proper stretching plays a key role in maintaining spinal health,...
Your posture is considered proper if your joints are not bent and your spine is aligned. A variety of ailments bring about problems with posture. The results of these conditions range from mild postural misalignment to severe disability. Most...
Dowager's hump, or kyphosis, describes a condition in which there is an abnormality in the curve of the spine. Kyphosis is specifically the extreme curvature of the spinal column in the chest. The excessive curvature causes the formation of a hump...
Back pain is one of the most common chronic pain conditions that doctors treat in the United States, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS). A high percentage of people will have low back pain caused by a herniated disk....
Your nerves travel through your spinal column and then out to various areas of the body. Arthritis and disc problems can cause a narrowing of the spinal column, which can compress your nerves. This narrowing of the spinal column is called spinal...
Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a rare disorder in which a bundle of nerve roots, called the cauda equina, in the lower portion of the spinal cord are compressed and paralyzed. It is an emergency situation that must be treated as soon as possible...
The C3 and C4 vertebrae are two of the seven small bones that form the cervical spine, which runs vertically along the neck. In between these vertebrae there are discs, which help support and protect the bones and nerves of the spinal column....
Cervical radiculopathy is the radiation of neck pain to certain parts of the upper body. Certain conditions, such as a herniated disk, spinal stenosis or osteoarthritis, can compress a spinal nerve as it exits the spinal column. Medline Plus, of...
The spinal column is a complex web of nerves and bones that runs vertically along the back of the human body. The nerves within the spinal cord allow messages to be sent back and forth between the brain and various parts of the body, such as the...
Your thoracic paraspinal muscles run alongside your spinal column and attach to your vertebrae. When tension occurs in these muscles, they can impinge on your spine and cause pain or the discs to move out of alignment. If this occurs, you can...
Spinal stenosis occurs when a blockage decreases the diameter of the central tunnel that descends through the bones of the spinal column. The narrowed canal can compress the nerves that comprise the spinal cord, which passes through the spinal...
Degenerative spine disease, more commonly known as disk disease, actually isn't a single disease; instead, it is a general term used to describe numerous diseases of the spinal column. All of the diseases in the degenerative disk disease category...
Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones of the body become unusually porous and fragile. Over half of people over the age of 50 in the United States have osteoporosis, reports the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Patients who develop any...
The spine is made of many specially shaped bones, called vertebrae. Stacked on top of one another, these vertebrae form the spinal column. This spinal column houses and protects the intricate network of nerves, called the spinal cord, connecting...
The vertebral column is made of 33 individual weight-bearing bones called vertebrae, soft cushions between these vertebrae called discs, and ligaments that hold the structure in place. In addition, there are a multitude of muscles that attach to...
Any type of degenerative condition of the spinal column may inhibit your movement and range of motion. Strength, stability and balance may also be affected. Various terms define conditions of spinal degeneration depending on the anatomy of the...
If you have a herniated disk, you can engage in regular aerobic and resistance exercises as long as you maintain a neutral spinal position where the pelvis is not tilted too far forward or backward. This position places the least amount of stress...
The spinal column is made up of 24 bones, or vertebrae, with intervertebral disk that go between each of the vertebrae. The disks are composed of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber when a person walks and increases the flexibility of the...
Learn the balasana pose with back massage for partner yoga in this free how-to video on partner yoga sequences and positions.
Learn the spinal twist pose with three people for partner yoga in this free how-to video on partner yoga sequences and positions.
Release tension and stress by learning how to work the spinal area in Shiatsu Massage with expert massage therapy tips in this free video.