Staff Writer
You have heard plenty about the importance of drinking more water for your health. But were you aware that water plays a significant role in the health of your spine? You definitely need water for the proper functioning of your bodily systems, and that includes your spine.
To appreciate the value of water for your spine, you first need to understand some of the basics about how your spine is structured and how it functions. Each of your vertebrae is stacked on top of one another – but not directly on top of one another. A spinal disc sits between each, similar to a little doughnut filled with gel. Each disc helps cushion the bones in your spine from contact with each other. They allow you to bounce and twist through life without grinding your vertebrae together.
The exterior of your spinal discs is tough and strong, but the inside is filled with a much softer material, somewhat resembling gel. A little bit of water is released every time you compress the disc. The water needs to be replenished for the disc to function correctly.
There is no way to live without compressing your spinal discs. Just sitting upright, your discs are holding back gravity. You want to move without pain or discomfort, so you need functional discs. Water is a big part of what makes those discs functional.
If you do not have enough water in your system, your discs will slowly dehydrate causing them to not work as they should. The longer they remain deflated, the more they can put you at a higher risk of friction between your vertebrae. Friction is the enemy because it can lead to nerve compression, bone loss, degeneration, and general pain and discomfort.
Your spine is lower on the list of essential areas of your body to maintain when you are dehydrated – so your body will pull water away from your spine if it needs hydration for more important things like your brain and vital organs. That means you can have enough water in your system to stay alive and relatively functional but not enough to keep your spine working properly.
Living a lifestyle that keeps you mildly dehydrated can put extra strain on your spine over a long time, leading to a gradual degradation of your discs and joints. You may not even realize there is a problem until you are in severe pain and require medical attention.
A lack of proper hydration can lead to other health problems:
Combining a healthy lifestyle with regular chiropractic care can go even further in maintaining the health of your back, neck, and joints.
Do you know that many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon and spinach, are almost 100% water by weight? Another guideline for overall better health is to drink a glass of water:
Comprehensive chiropractic care can include nutritional and lifestyle consultations – to help you develop healthy habits – and regular neuromusculoskeletal assessment and correction.
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit chiropractic and health sciences university in Overland Park, Kansas. Founded in 1922, CUKC has an ongoing mission to educate and develop leaders in chiropractic and other health science professions.
The CUKC on-campus Chiropractic Health Center is open to the public and treats patients from Kansas City’s 15-county metro area. The chiropractic interns and licensed clinicians who supervise your care are leaders in the field. Our goal is to provide chiropractic care and solutions for a better, more productive life for our patients.
