5564 Little Debbie Pkwy, Suite 108, Collegedale, TN 37363

Is My Spine Healthy?

You brush and floss twice a day to keep your teeth healthy. You exercise regularly to keep your heart and body strong. What are you doing to keep your spine healthy?

Right now, you are probably thinking why do I need to worry about my spine’s health? I’m generally not in pain, so I feel like I’m good.

Your spine is more than just the 26 bones in your back, it also houses your nerves and allows for the transfer of information throughout your body.

Believe it or not, an unhealthy spine can lead to allergies, carpal tunnel in hands and fingers, snoring, headaches, migraines, fatigue, back pain, hip pain, and many other conditions.

So, how do we know if our spine is healthy?

Answer the questions below and start your own self-assessment to see how healthy your spine really is!

1. Shoe Test: Look at the bottom of your shoes, are the heels worn out unevenly? If so, you could have an uneven leg length due to an overly rotated hip joint.

2. Profile Test: Have someone take a side profile photo of you or take a side shot selfie of yourself. Do your ears line up with your shoulders? If not, your head and spine are off center and putting stress on your neck.

For every incorrect inch forward your head is past your shoulders, an additional 10 pounds of bio-mechanical stress is added. That’s like a bowling ball per inch!

3. Fatigue Test: Try not to answer this next question if you just woke up or if its late into the workday, but how is your fatigue level? Do you feel chronically tired all the time? Aside from have a known medical condition that causes fatigue, an unbalanced spine creates stress on the nervous system which can make you feel fatigued faster than normal.

4. Range of Motion Tests: Let’s check to see if your spine has its full range of motion. If any of the ranges of motion become painful stop immediately.

a. First off, check the motion of your neck by looking down to the floor as far as you can. You should be able to touch your chin to your chest. Next, look up to the ceiling as far as you can, you should be able to point the tip of your chin to the ceiling. Now, look over from one shoulder to the other. Your chin should be over each shoulder as you look each direction. Lastly, bend each ear to the same side shoulder. This should not cause pain.

b. The lower back range of motion is next. While standing, bend over and try to touch your toes. Next, while standing bend your back backwards as if to do the limbo. Now, rotate the trunk of your body from to one side and then the other. Lastly, lean your body from one side to the other.

You should be able to perform all of these ranges of motion fully without feeling any stiffness or pain. If you can’t, it is a sign of an unhealthy spine.

5. Headaches or Migraines: Do you often avoid social outings due to headaches, migraines, or back pain? If yes, again this is a common sign of an unhealthy spine.

6. Urge to Crack your Back: Last question is, do you feel the need to “crack” your neck, back, or other joints? Spinal misalignment’s can make trigger this feeling in your spine and constantly, “cracking,” your own spine can be dangerous and lead to hyper-mobile ligaments which can lead to future injuries.

The results of this quiz may have surprised you. If you are now wondering how you can fix an unhealthy spine, there is good news! Many people have similar symptoms and have found correction through Chiropractic Care.

medications will also allow relief from symptoms of an unhealthy spine, but generally this relief is masking the cause of the problem. Chiropractic care, on the other hand, works to holistically correct the root cause of the issue.

Based on the assessment above, if your spine needs correction, we are your solution. Click below to schedule your appointment today!

Schedule Now!

Reach Health and Wellness Chiropractic is located in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area specifically in Collegedale, TN, a short distance from Ooltewah, Cleveland, East Brainerd, East Ridge, Ringgold, Apison, and Harrison.


Dr. Ryan Lee is the practicing chiropractic physician at Reach Health and Wellness Chiropractic. For his full bio, click here.

*This content is strictly the opinion of Dr. Ryan Lee and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Dr. Lee does not take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

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