Spinal misalignment occurs when the vertebrae—the bones of the spine—shift out of their ideal position relative to one another. This deviation disrupts the spine’s proper function, which is to protect the spinal cord, sustain weight-bearing, and allow for mobility. Improper stacking can lead to uneven wear, muscle tension, and interference with the nervous system’s communication pathways. The causes range from subtle, long-term habits to sudden traumatic events and underlying structural problems.
Daily Postural Habits and Ergonomics
Routine activities can exert chronic, low-level stress on the spine, gradually pulling it out of alignment. Prolonged sitting forces the lower back into a flexed, non-neutral posture. This slumped position decreases the natural inward curve of the lumbar spine (lordosis), significantly increasing pressure on the intervertebral discs.
Forward head posture, or “tech neck,” is a specific cervical spine misalignment caused by constantly looking down at screens. For every inch the head shifts forward, the weight placed on the neck and upper back muscles increases, contributing to misalignments. Improper lifting techniques, such as bending over instead of squatting, place excessive forces on the lumbar vertebrae and discs, while poor sleeping positions can lead to sustained mechanical strain and chronic misalignment.
Acute Trauma and Repetitive Stress Injuries
Misalignments can result from a singular, powerful physical event that forces the vertebrae out of place. Acute trauma, such as whiplash from a car accident, a fall, or a direct sports impact, can immediately displace a vertebra or tear supporting ligaments. Ligaments connect bone to bone, and their sudden overstretching or tearing compromises spinal stability, allowing segments to shift. These sudden, high-force injuries can cause immediate subluxations.
Repetitive stress injuries involve chronic, high-level mechanical stress from occupational tasks or overuse. Jobs requiring constant twisting, heavy lifting, or prolonged vibration can lead to the gradual mechanical failure of the spine’s stabilizing structures. Over time, this chronic overuse causes cumulative damage to the discs, joints, and soft tissues, leading to instability and a progressive shift in alignment.
Structural and Congenital Conditions
Some spinal misalignments result from the spinal structure being improperly developed. These congenital conditions include scoliosis, an abnormal lateral (sideways) curvature of the spine that often forms a C or S shape. Congenital scoliosis is caused by anomalous vertebral development during fetal growth, such as a failure of the vertebrae to form correctly or a failure to separate.
Two other major structural conditions are kyphosis and lordosis, which involve abnormal curves when viewed from the side. Kyphosis is an excessive outward curve in the upper back, giving a hunched appearance, which can occur congenitally due to incompletely formed or fused vertebrae. Lordosis is an exaggerated inward curve of the lower back, sometimes called swayback. Birth defects causing asymmetrical growth of the vertebrae can lead to these abnormal curves.
Degenerative Changes Related to Aging
The natural process of aging causes wear-and-tear that destabilizes the spine, leading to misalignments over time. Osteoarthritis (spondylosis) is characterized by the breakdown of cartilage in the facet joints, which connect the vertebrae at the back of the spine. As cartilage wears away, bone surfaces rub together, leading to inflammation and the formation of bone spurs, which alter the structural relationship between the vertebrae. This joint degeneration can result in degenerative spondylolisthesis, where one vertebra slips forward over the one below it.
Degenerative disc disease involves the intervertebral discs losing water content and elasticity, causing them to flatten and lose height. This loss of cushioning reduces the space between the vertebrae, leading to instability and shifting of the spinal segments. Osteoporosis, marked by decreased bone density, further compounds this problem, making weakened vertebrae susceptible to compression fractures that throw the spine out of alignment and often increase kyphosis.