October Is A Special Month

And not just because it’s every child’s favorite haunted holiday.

It’s Rocktober to musicians. Pinktober to breast cancer survivors. Inktober to artists. Catober to animal enthusiasts. And for those who suffer from chronic pain, Backtober.

October is Spine Health Awareness Month, with World Spine Day on October 16th. It serves as a reminder of how important your spine is, highlighting the ways a person’s back influences their quality of life, especially when chronic pain or debilitating pain immobilizes you.

According to WorldSpineDay.org, this global holiday stresses “the importance of spinal health and wellbeing. Promotion of physical activity, good posture, responsible lifting and healthy working conditions will all feature as people are encouraged to look after their spines and stay active.”

So, what’s so special about your spine? We’ll tell you!

It’s All Connected

Your spine is made up of 33 bones, called vertebrae, that are held together by muscles, joints, and ligaments to form the spinal column:

• The Cervical (Neck) Region, which supports the weight of your head, contains 7 vertebrae that allow for up-and-down and side-to-side motion.
• The Thoracic (Chest) Region, which holds the rib cage, contains 12 vertebrae that allow for a limited range of movement.
• The Lumber (Lower Back) Region, which bears the weight of body and absorbs stress when lifting and carrying, contains 5 vertebrae.
• The Sacrum (Pelvic) Region, which connects the spine to the hip bones, contains 5 vertebrae that are fused together.
• The Coccyx (Tailbone) Region, which provides attachment for ligaments and muscles in the pelvic region, contains four vertebrae that are also fused together.

Your spine provides the body with strength, support, flexibility, and a range of movements from standing upright to bending, twisting, and crouching. When the vertebrae in your spine become weak or brittle, there is an increased risk of serious spinal problems.

Improve Your Spine’s Health

Spine surgery is not always the answer. There is no “one size fits all” solution to back pain but there are little things that anyone can do improve their overall health and strengthen their spine.

View more at our blog!

When To Seek Help

If you experience chronic pain that worsens over time or becomes debilitating, we invite you to call our office at 716-881-0382.  At William Capicotto, we restore motion to your spine so you can move on with your life.