Importance of Cervical Spine: Understanding its Function and Health

Supporting the head and neck is the cervical spine, which is the uppermost portion of the spine.

[{"selector":"#anim-13c930f9-08f6-4702-9c74-1674da6dd31a","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8c28f380-f55d-471d-9709-35f5980acfae","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b833fc45-a98b-41ac-b359-6fb1d0310534","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e7a0833-7c75-416e-bc44-901d9a7231b5","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c1721e31-912a-4571-8449-c03532584fe6","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5cfe3983-45c1-468d-b596-af02a5d3a629","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b695da90-3229-46bd-9b29-f30ea71652f7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":900,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Maintaining proper posture, preventing injuries, and promoting overall health requires understanding the function of the cervical spine.

[{"selector":"#anim-7325b801-ae34-43b8-902a-0e00eab478b6","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52f7d657-4025-4820-8adb-f7fded631016","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-95a0f3a0-99de-4ac6-a531-dd406504bbfe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ad5c088f-9d71-4216-80e9-fbf70ad5f9f0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-30d7be06-cb8d-4c6a-8155-048ce1469dbd","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-98de797b-fa5e-4db8-b344-395f53ff9554","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4c6f83ef-d38e-4e57-9ed0-b2ce928bde1f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":900,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

There are seven vertebrae in the cervical spine, and many problems with these vertebrae can cause pain, stiffness, or paralysis.

[{"selector":"#anim-871a6e69-a4da-453b-a736-6e626730c877","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-18d33531-c43c-4020-876c-3d43d16a7d62","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10b8f3a7-6739-4614-a3ec-08182345d5d7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ae779696-2467-45fb-b791-0df60023f6d9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1b01311d-15c2-40b8-ac62-9786a6c10011","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9f288504-d9b2-4c40-9713-a51de7d52107","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-929995ab-cc7e-4188-bc30-1489856553d0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":900,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Keeping the cervical spine healthy involves maintaining good posture, performing exercises to strengthen the muscles around the neck and shoulders, and seeking treatment if any pain or discomfort arises.

[{"selector":"#anim-a92991db-501d-4e3b-9f14-b0d07547ccaa","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74b4a582-128c-4543-a45d-c6e85e757718","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-676aad2b-b48a-4af2-a79c-3dd752069a33","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-acae7fba-5006-4b3c-8328-fe299218fc04","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f42496c-196f-470e-b829-7922086d546c","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-be6c0b2e-7256-4e18-b9eb-1aa51f257567","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7766b807-8277-4541-9758-a41716579532","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":900,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Trauma, such as whiplash or a sports injury, or degenerative conditions, such as arthritis, can cause cervical spine injuries.

[{"selector":"#anim-c0e42c43-9ee8-4f55-a6bc-0eca543e5ba3","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c727669c-b971-4d78-96d6-ac8ca2fbfe80","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6b5a735d-58fa-4760-bd7f-95fd0f77a82a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d378fb87-d609-410c-9e18-b2ac57ac4826","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-83b6404a-f92e-4fa2-ab06-b581a4225c96","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-908dcd43-e9df-4f62-b4c6-73d73dbcd444","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6169aae7-5e38-4584-9084-d1cf72355708","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":900,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

It is important to have regular cervical spine checkups with a healthcare provider if you want to identify and treat any issues before they become more severe.

[{"selector":"#anim-cc21ae3f-427a-4a2e-aeeb-9ef34f915319","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fdb84353-47ec-4cb6-b253-e2610ad5c2e5","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5e55b972-78e3-43fa-9489-7c8ca7e62817","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fdd0180c-4759-4d44-9e5b-04cc0e4484dd","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b5982a2-6c68-445c-bde6-54f35e4cb85d","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff335f5c-45b9-4e38-b6ea-1c7fa0b4d42b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-37fd2edf-2bb1-471a-bf04-afe4c80fcb80","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":900,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]