Southwest Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Information Headquarters

While the ability to stand and function on two legs allows humans to excel at home, work, sport or play, it is also a set-up for failure at the foundation or hub of the body; the lower back.

Our spine’s primary job is to act as the “tree trunk” of the body. The spine is made up of 24 bony blocks called vertebrae, stacked one on top of the other. In between each two vertebra is a disc, made out of cartilage rings. The disc acts like a rubber band to absorb shock between vertebrae, and to allow movement in every direction without damaging the bony vertebrae.