Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter
Jul 6, 2022 · 28 min · 10 segments
Back pain is extremely common. (The U.S spent around $135 BILLION on it in 2016 alone!). It’s also complicated, because sometimes it’s one thing, but often it’s a combination of factors with no single…
Jen GunterHost
First, there are the vertebrae, the bones that run from your neck to your tailbone.
And together, the vertebrae make up the spinal column, which protects your spinal cord.
There are also discs between your vertebrae that provide cushion and help absorb and distribute pressure across your spine.
So all these pieces, bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves work together to help your back do everything it does for you.
The core is composed of our abdominal muscles.
It's composed of our low back muscles.
It's composed of our hips and our glutes as well.
It is the support system for the lower part of our body.
And the reason why it's important is because the muscles in the core take pressure off the rest of the spine.
Every day, we put all kinds of pressure on our backs when we walk, stand, carry our groceries, lift furniture, and especially when we sit.
When you sit and you lean forward in bad posture, you're putting about 1.8 times the pressure relative to standing on your back.
So that sitting is a hazard.
And for the great majority of our history as a species, We've been standing, walking, running.
We've been up on our feet.
And so you can make an argument that we've evolved and are designed to be on our feet and be active.
Bottom line,
We have the musculoskeletal system.
First, there are the vertebrae, the bones that run from your neck to your tailbone.
And together, the vertebrae make up the spinal column, which protects your spinal cord.
There are also discs between your vertebrae that provide cushion and help absorb and distribute pressure across your spine.
So all these pieces, bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves work together to help your back do everything it does for you.
The core is composed of our abdominal muscles.
It's composed of our low back muscles.
It's composed of our hips and our glutes as well.
It is the support system for the lower part of our body.
And the reason why it's important is because the muscles in the core take pressure off the rest of the spine.
Every day, we put all kinds of pressure on our backs when we walk, stand, carry our groceries, lift furniture, and especially when we sit.
When you sit and you lean forward in bad posture, you're putting about 1.8 times the pressure relative to standing on your back.
So that sitting is a hazard.
And for the great majority of our history as a species, We've been standing, walking, running.
We've been up on our feet.
And so you can make an argument that we've evolved and are designed to be on our feet and be active.
Bottom line,
We have the musculoskeletal system.
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