Our muscles also play a significant part in our balance. The major low back muscles control the body balance to such a degree, that if there is a weakness in any of these muscles, it will impair one’s balance. That is why if the individual is suffering with low back pain, their balance will be impaired. Underneath these major low back muscles, there are also minor groups of intrinsic muscles that add to the support of the spine as well. Very often these muscles are weakened due to spinal conditions that occur, such as a spinal misalignment. A misalignment of any of the spinal segments is known as a subluxation. When subluxations occur, the nerves emanating from the spinal cord, and through the foramina (openings), are either irritated or pinched. In this occurrence, there is a misfiring of the nerve stimuli sent by the intrinsic muscles to the brain. This misfiring causes a loss of spinal stability, and the result is an imbalance in the proprioception system, and the body loses its ability to maintain a normal balance.
An individual that has a scenario as described above, will have a weakened proprioceptor system, and they will be prone to falls and accidents, that will further put them at risk for causing fractures or more spinal subluxations. Normal body balance is lost, putting the individual at serious risk for more bodily harm.
Aging, very often plays a major part in the normal balance of the body and the gradual loss thereof. Starting at around the age of 50, there is a gradual deterioration of all the body senses that maintain normal balance. This will be especially true of the individual who has maintained a sedentary lifestyle. Such a lifestyle will have weakened the muscles and spinal integrity. As the muscles lose mass, they will be weaker, unless the individual has maintained an active lifestyle. Read the rest of this entry »

