Is Your Spine Straight? 4 Symptoms That Point To A Misaligned Spine

A misaligned or crooked spine can cause a myriad of health problems, including pain and fatigue. It can also place undue stress on other parts of your body as you unconsciously try to compensate for the misalignment with poor posture and by over-extending your body. While a chiropractor can help alleviate your pain, you don't have to experience pain at all. If you learn to recognize the first signs of spinal misalignment, you may be able to seek treatment before you start feeling the effects. Following are some symptoms to watch out for. 

Uneven Shoe Wear

Take a look at the bottom of your shoes. Do the heels of your shoes look the same, or is one worn down more than the other? If your shoes show signs of uneven wear, you may have a misalignment. You see, a crooked spine may cause one of your legs to be longer than the other, and it may even cause you to place more weight on one leg than the other. Both of these symptoms can contribute to uneven wear on your shoes. 

Inability to Twist and Turn

If you can't twist and turn your head and hips easily, you may have a spinal issue. When checking your range of motion, keep in mind that you should be able to twist and turn equally on both sides. If you can turn freely to the right but not to the left, you should get checked out by a doctor or chiropractor.

Presence of Clicking

Clicking, cracking and popping noises that coincide with movement may indicate an issue with your spinal column. Clicking in unusual places, such as your jaw, may also point to a misalignment. Additionally, if you have to crack your neck, back or joints frequently to relieve pressure, pain or tension, it can indicate that something isn't quite right.

Odd Gait while Walking

Pay attention to the way you walk. Things to watch for include an uneven gait and signs that one or more leg or foot is turning outward or inward when you walk. You should also check the lengths of your legs. If one looks shorter than the other, you could have spinal issues. 

If you suspect that you have a spinal misalignment, you should see your doctor or chiropractor, like Dr. Paul Lyons, right away. You don't want to wait for the pain to set in. What's more, misalignment can cause other problems if it is not diagnosed and treated.