Healthy Nerves, Healthy Body

Do you know what it takes to have healthy nerves? 
Our nervous system is comprised of 3 parts:

• The central nervous system: brain and spinal cord.
  
• The peripheral nervous system: nerves that exit the spinal cord and go to the head, torso and extremities.
• The autonomic nervous system: responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, digestion, etc.

The brain, spinal cord and nerves are protected and encased in connective tissue. There are 3 membranes that line the skull and vertebral canal and enclose the brain and spinal cord.  These layers are called the meninges: pia mater, arachnoid mater and dura mater.

The falx cerebri and the tentorium cerebelli are folds of the dura mater that separate the hemispheres and the cerebellum.

The dura mater surrounding the spinal cord. The dura mater is the outer most layer and is the strongest of the membranes.

The end of the spinal cord comes to a cone and then a fine strand (the filum terminale) attaches to the coccyx.

The outermost membrane, the dura mater extends from the base of the skull to the sacrum and coccyx.  The dura is attached to the lining of the base of the skull and the upper cervical vertebra. Through the remainder of the vertebral canal, the dura does not attach to the vertebra until the end of the dural sac at the second sacral vertebrae. Extensions of the dura surround the nerve roots and continue into the connective tissue coverings of the spinal nerves.  So this tube that protects the brain, spinal cord and the spinal nerves is pretty important!  In order to have healthy dura and healthy nerves we need proper movement, hydration, nutrition and sleep to keep the connective tissue vital.  A lot of our days are full of stress, spent in static positions that lead to neck or sacral compression (sitting at the computer, driving in the car) or repetitive movements that can stress and dehydrate the tissues.  Try these movements to keep your nervous system healthy.

Exercises To Mobilize Your Nervous System

Susan McLaughlin is a physical therapist who specializes in the management of pelvic floor and orthopedic dysfunctions. She is the owner of ALIGN integration|movement in Salt Lake City, UT.  Helpful tips and other self care strategies can be found at www.alignforhealth.com.