The Human Body: A Structure That Would Make Any Architect Proud

By Dr. Dave Edenfield

When people discuss world famous architecture, the names of Frank Lloyd Wright, Antonio Gaudi and IM Pei come to mind since they are responsible for creating some of the most iconic buildings ever constructed.  Yet even these rock stars of the world of architecture would admit that when it comes to spectacular structures, nothing can compare to the human body.

Perhaps it’s due to the fact that we inhabit them that most people do not realize how truly incredible the human body really is.  So in order to provide you with a few benchmarks from which to compare, allow me to point out the following:

1.      If you measured all the paved and unpaved roads in the US you would discover that they total 4,058,347 miles.  That’s a pretty impressive number.  But that’s nothing compared to the number of neurons (100 billion) and synapses (100 trillion) in the brain. (Even more incredible is the fact that the supercomputer in your head operates on only 10-watts of power.)

2.      Speaking of highways, while the speed limit on most interstates is 80 mph, that is nothing compared to the speed at which nerve impulses travel through the brain.  (They move as fast as 170 MPH.)  If we could all travel that fast just think of how short that would make the typical morning commute.

3.      Just like the reciprocal engine in your car, the human heart fires on average 100,000 times per day while pumping 1,900 gallons of blood.  Best of all, you never have to change the oil or rotate the tires.

4.      Stomach acid is not only strong enough to digest food, its strong enough to dissolve razor blades. (Don’t try this at home kids.) Relying on hydrochloric acid to do the dirty work, what’s even more incredible is the fact that the stomach doesn’t digest itself.

5.      Your nose can remember 50,000 scents.  Don’t gloat, because a dog’s nose is close to a million times more sensitive than a human’s. Smells are also associated with everything from taste to memories.

6.      It takes 200 muscles to take a single step.  Pound for pound the strongest muscle in the human body is the tongue.  

7.      Your body gives off enough heat to bring a half gallon of water to boil in 30 minutes. This is chiefly due to the fact that it takes a considerable amount of calories to maintain our 98.6 degree body temperatures.  (It also gives a whole new meaning to the term hot-blooded.)

8.      Other than primates, koalas are the only other creatures on the planet with fingerprints.  While fingerprints are used in modern society as a form of identification, their true purposes are to improve both grip and tactile sensation. 

While I could go on and on about the incredible properties inherent in the human body, I think you get the point.  Although the majority of the body has the ability to heal itself (with the exception of the 

teeth), that doesn’t mean that any of us should neglect to keep it well fueled and maintained.  In fact, it’s the body’s innate propensity to adjust to its environment that can cause us to experience problems from time to time.  For instance, astronauts in orbit experience weightlessness.  This causes the body to begin to decalcify the bones, since they are not needed in orbit.  As a result, astronauts who remain in orbit for extended periods of time are forced to exercise for several hours daily.  Even then virtually all astronauts wind up with bone structures that take on the appearance of those of 70 year olds.

Of course, you don’ have to ride a booster into outer space to have the body begin to reconfigure itself.  All it takes is a bit of stress here and an imbalance or injury there to cause real problems.  Many people who spend their days toiling in front of a computer can experience the phenomenon known as head forward syndrome, which causes the head and shoulders to slump and the posture to appear decades older. This syndrome is caused by the muscles and other soft tissue attempting to adapt to a changing center of gravity caused by the unnatural head down position that many people assume when they read from a computer, laptop or tablet.

  

Likewise, many forms of neck and back pain are caused by the body making gradual adjustments over time to spinal column that while subtle can over time produce chronic and even debilitating conditions.  The architecture of the lower back is much more complicated than most people realize.  Spinal vertebrae along with their associated discs form a framework over which are attached the tendons, muscles and soft tissue.  All of these structures are controlled and monitored by a series of highly sensitive nerves that travel from the lower back down the legs and into the feet.  Damage to any of these structures can cause pain not only in the damaged areas, but this pain can also radiate to other parts of the body.  

If you or anyone you know is experiencing back or neck pain, have them talk to a doctor of chiropractic to discuss treatment options.  Like any building, a structure such as the human body  is only as strong as its foundation.

Dr. Dave Edenfield  and Dr. Steven Warfield are part of the team of doctors and therapists at http://chiropractic-jacksonville-fl.com and http://endyourpain.org who are dedicated to helping you and your family lead  healthier, happier and pain-free lives. 

The Lowdown on Lower Back Pain

By Dr. Dave Edenfield

When it comes to the masses, lower back pain doesn’t discriminate.  Common to people of all ages, both sexes and every racial, economic and social strata, more than 95% of the population is forced to deal with this condition at some point in time.   For the fortunate the pain may subside within a day or so.  For others, chronic pain can be something that they will be burdened with for the rest of their lives. 

The costs in the US alone totals close to $50 billion per year when you factor in everything from 

treatment and surgery to pain pills and lost wages.  Studies show that lower back pain is the number one cause of occupational disability worldwide.  It is also regarded as the second most debilitating neurological condition in the US next to headache.

Causes of Lower Back Pain

Since dealing with back pain can be so problematic, the first line of defense is prevention.  Typically lower back pain begins with loss of flexibility leading to a sudden muscle or ligament strain.  Caused by lifting a heavy object improperly, quick movements or twisting of the spine can overtax the tissue’s ability to stretch, ultimately resulting in everything from strain to microscopic tears that then manifest themselves as pain.  This pain can range from mild discomfort or a dull ache to disabling pain depending upon the extent and location of the injury. Injuries that involve either the nerves or the lumbar discs can be particularly debilitating.  The best advice I can give to anyone who experiences lower back pain is to curtail all physically activity immediately.  The last thing you want to do is to make an already bad situation worse.

Diagnosis and Treatment

The architecture of the lower back is much more complicated than most people realize.  Spinal vertebrae along with their associated discs form a framework over which are attached the tendons, muscles and soft tissues.  All of these structures are controlled and monitored by a series of highly sensitive nerves that travel from the lower back down the legs and into the feet.  Damage to any of these structures can cause pain not only in the damaged areas, but this pain can also radiate to other parts of the body. 

While lower back pain can occur at any age, certain types of injuries are more typical with certain age groups.  While the elderly are more susceptible to pain caused  by joint degeneration, younger adults particularly those in the 30-50 range are more likely to experience pain due to ligament or disc injury.  To determine the cause and proper treatment of lower back pain your chiropractor will need to conduct an examination, part of which will involve asking you to describe the location and severity of pain, an orthopedic and neurological exam and X-ray imaging may also be in order.

 As a rule, lower back pain can be broken down into three categories:

1.    Axial lower back pain – Relegated to the lower back only, this pain can become severe enough to preclude normal activities, such as standing or walking.  That’s the bad news.  The good news is that for many patients this kind of pain is typically short lived if treated promptly.  (Typical treatments can take from one to three months.)

2.    Sciatica is the next most common lower back problem.  Caused by compression of the sciatic nerve, this kind of lower back pain is characterized by pain that radiates to the leg, buttock, or foot.

3.    Low back pain with referred pain - Like sciatica this condition involves back pain that radiates to the groin, buttock and/or upper thigh.  But in this case it rarely extends below the knee. 

Making the Pain Go Away

Depending upon the category and severity of the injury, your chiropractor may bring a number of treatment modalities into play in order to make the pain go away, including spinal manipulation, spinal decompression such as Vax-D, and cold laser technology and various other therapeutic treatments. He or she will also prescribe various exercise and stretching routines that can not only speed your recovery but also prevent a relapse. Since lifestyle and environmental factors can also come into play, there are a number of triggers that you can learn to avoid, such as:

•        Weight Gain

•        Poor Posture

•        Sports that produce repetitive stresses

•        Lifting with the back as opposed to the legs

•        Chairs with poor or no lumbar support

•        Wearing high heeled shoes

If you or anyone you know is experiencing back pain, have them talk to a doctor of chiropractic to discuss treatment options.  A number of chiropractic offices such as ours even offer a free initial consultation, examination and x-ray if medically necessary to make it possible for people of all income brackets to seek help, alleviate pain and avoid complications. 

Dr. Dave Edenfield  and Dr. Steven Warfield are part of the team of doctors and therapists at http://chiropractic-jacksonville-fl.com and http://endyourpain.org who are dedicated to helping you and your family lead  healthier, happier and pain-free lives.