The Research on Spinal Curves

Since 1895, chiropractors have been adjusting spines and allowing individuals to enjoy a pain-free life. Did you know that the curves in your spine may be influencing your overall health. Let’s take a look at what the research says.
Many health conditions have been studied as well as their physiological responses to spinal adjustments — including hormone levels, circulation changes, blood pressure changes and a large number of other health parameters. However, one major question remains: how important are spinal curves in the overall health picture of an individual? Can alterations in the “normal” curve lead to a troublesome future or be the cause of a current condition?
With medicine, both traditional and alternative, constantly evolving, there is constantly new research being conducted and researchers are finding new and cutting-edge means of treating a variety of health conditions.
A recent study in the chiropractic field reported results after conducting a systematic critical literature review. This literature review gathered 54 published studies between 1942 and 2008. The content of these published studies was reviewed for quality and content. These studies looked at over 20,000 patients and the health of their spines. A sagittal curve is the curve you can see when you turn to the side.
Included in this review of research on spinal curves was a number of different types of studies and methods that were used to evaluate the sagittal curves of the lumbar spine (or lower back), thoracic spine (or mid back) and the cervical spine (or neck). Thirty eight studies examined the lower back. Thirty four studies examined the middle back. Six studies took a look at the cervical spine.