 Mid-Back
& Ribs
Your mid-back and ribs house some very
important organs, specifically your heart, lungs, major
blood vessels, and diaphragm. Keeping your ribcage balanced
and aligned through chiropractic care is vital because
unnatural pressure on your internal organs can affect
proper functioning. Of the twenty-four vertebrae which
make up your spine, twelve are in your mid-back. On
each side of the vertebrae is a rib, 24 in all. The
nerves that exit between these ribs are special. They
regulate all the automatic functions in your body, for
example your breathing, body temperature, heart rate,
digestion, gland or kidney functions. The nerves send
signals to your brain, eyes, ears, and cranial nerves
which constantly monitor and update the functions of
your internal organs. Any interruption in communication
between these nerves and your vital organs compromises
your body’s resistance to disease, basic functions
and overall health.
In the ribcage, or Thoracic vertebrae,
subluxations can restrict your breathing, prevent proper
draining of lymphatic fluids, and interrupt the nerves
that influence your internal organs, senses and even
your brain. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome affects the nerves
that go from your spine into your arms. You could experience
pain in your head, neck or arms. T-4 Syndrome, which
is named for a condition caused by the subluxation of
thoracic vertebrae 4, can present symptoms including
heaviness and swelling in your arms, feeling like a
tight band is constricting your upper arm, feelings
of heat and cold in hands, or a "creepy crawly"
feeling in the shoulders.(1>4) Patients with these conditions may also feel pain in
the chest and left upper extremity, like the pain of
having a heart attack. Many who suffer from thoracic
subluxations may be confused and think they have Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome.
The mid-back and ribs may subluxate from
accidents, falls, sports, trauma or birth stress. Special
techniques are used to adjust the thoracic spine and
ribs. Releasing pressure on spinal nerves and the ribcage
can be physically and psychologically dynamic. Insuring
that your vital organs will be able to communicate uninterrupted
with your brain and senses is essential to maintaining
a healthy body.
|
