Lasting Results With Coordination
Our goal is to not only quickly relieve your pain, but to make sure your spine stays healthy for the long run. One of the most important features of a healthy spine is the ability to coordinate your muscles. This provides long-term spine health and the capability to handle strenuous motions.
Your spine is complex, with 33 bones and over 48 joints that all have to move at the right time and place to make smooth movements. Your spine has hundreds of muscles that give it strength and, most importantly, coordinate those movements. It’s no wonder things can go wrong when you have that many moving parts.
With prolonged sitting or injury, muscle segments of the spine are traumatized, resulting in weakness, poor balance and coordination. In addition, as we age, the nerve impulses that control our balance slow down. The good news is that with the right exercises and treatment, your coordination and balance can be vastly improved.
Exercises to Improve your Spinal Coordination
- Work on your whole balance. While holding onto a steady surface, try to balance on one leg at a time. Tighten your abdominal muscles while you do this and don’t let your hip / pelvis sink down
- Perform alternating arm and leg lift exercises. Using multiple body parts causes rotation and activation of the smaller muscles in the spine
- Work on controlling the tightening of your abdominal muscles, hips and spine throughout the day. Practice this lying down, sitting and standing to have a different effect on the abdominal muscles in different positions
- Perform core exercises such as modified planks
How Physical Therapy Helps Your Spinal Coordination
A physical therapist can pinpoint your exact problem by examining your flexibility, strength, and coordination. You are put through specific movement patterns that show where your spine lacks coordination and if you have any challenges with your balance. With this knowledge, a complete plan is designed to restore your spine’s natural coordination.
Physios at We-Fix-U have years of medical training in examining how the body moves and are registered with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario.
Reach us at any of our five convenient physiotherapy treatment centres: Bowmanville Clinic, Cobourg Clinic, Oshawa Clinic, Peterborough Clinic, and Port Hope Clinic. You could also book online.
This article is part of our free back pain relief manual; You can download it by clicking here.
Dave Evans
Owner / Registered Physiotherapist
About the Author
This article was written by We-Fix-U’s Owner and experienced Registered Physiotherapist in Bowmanville. He has taken a special interest in treating back injuries since his own back surgery and rehab experience. His highlights have been working as a Physio alongside the athletes from the 2000 Olympics. Dave is always willing to help when needed.
