Spinal Function Impacts Brain Function
Scientists call the changes that happen in our brains neural plastic changes. Neural plastic changes are happening all the time because our brain is continuously adapting to our ever-changing environment. When your spine is not moving properly this leads to changes in the way the small muscles closest to your spine and skull send proprioceptive information to your brain.
Scientists call changes that happen in our brains neural plastic changes
What is Proprioception?
Proprioception means your brain’s awareness of the position of your body, so your brain’s ability to know where all the parts of your body are in space. The proprioceptive information that comes from the muscles closest to your spine and skull helps your brain know what is going on in your spine, which represents the core of your body.
Spinal Function
If we look at spinal function in a very simplistic way, there are really 3 things you want your spine to do regularly:
- If you are running, you want your spinal bones to move in a synchronistic or harmonious manner to disperse the forces generated from running
- If you are lifting a heavy object, then you want your spine to stiffen up to protect you
- In addition to this, your spinal muscles also at times need to automatically respond during times that you’re experiencing some postural challenge, such as a trip or a slip
References
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- Kandel ER, Schwartz JH, Jessell TM. Principles of Neural Science. 4 ed: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2000.
- Brown TH, Kairiss EW, Keenan CL. Hebbian synapses: biophysical mechanisms and algorithms. Annu Rev Neurosci 1990;13:475-511.
- Cooke SF, Bliss TV. Plasticity in the human central nervous system Brain 2006;129(Pt 7):1659-73.
- Haavik H, Murphy B. The role of spinal manipulation in addressing disordered sensorimotor integration and altered motor control. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2012;22(5):768-76.
