Reflexology therapy for the vertebral column strengthens the entire spine: the Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacral, and Coccyx. It is useful for spinal disorders.
What are a vertebral column and spinal cord?
The Vertebral Column is of five major regions comprising 33 segments; two segments fused together, thus, the total segments are 31. Nerves are branched out from each segment to connect different body organs/parts:
- Cervical vertebrae have seven vertebrae located below the skull. It carries nerve to connect the head, neck, upper body, arms, and hands. It provides smooth head movement and support the skull.
- The thoracic spine consists of twelve vertebrae T1-T12. The thoracic spine refers to the upper- and middle-back. Thoracic region nerve connects hands, fingers, chest, and abdominal muscles.
- The lumbar spine consists of five vertebrae L1-L5. It is in the lower back; where, the spine curves inward toward the abdomen. Lumbar region nerve connects hips, knee, ankles and toe muscles.
- The sacrum is a large triangular bone at the spine base; formed by the fusion of sacral vertebrae S1–S5 happen during 18 to 30 years of age. Sacral nerve connects legs, toes, bladder and anal muscles.
- The coccyx or tailbone is at the bottom end of the spine. This part of the spine formed by the fusion of three or more tiny bones. Coccygeal region nerve connects skin around the coccyx.
The spinal cord lies within the vertebral canal, protected by three membranes.
Spinal nerve carries motor, sensory, and autonomic signals between the spinal cord and the body. There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves; one on each side of the vertebral column. There are eight pairs of cervical nerves, twelve pairs of thoracic nerves, five pairs of lumbar nerves, five pairs of sacral nerves, and one pair of coccygeal nerves.
5 Fuzzy Reflex Segments of Spinal Column
The spinal column divides the physical body in two; right and left. Similarly, the spine reflexes divided into two present in the right and the left feet.
The spinal reflexes are on the medial side, from the big toe until heel bone through arch bone. Feel this arch bone, by tracing on the medial side of the foot.
How to do reflexology therapy for the vertebrae column?
- Reflexology for Cervical vertebrae: Hold the foot with the left hand; using the right thumb, walk downwards from the big toe top edge until base. To cover the entire cervical vertebrae takes seven bites (walking step). Repeat walking three or five times.
- Reflexology for Thoracic vertebrae: Continue walking downward for 12 bites to cover 12 thoracic vertebrae. Should end on a bone called the navicular. Repeat walking twice. Apply gentle pressure to avoid healing-crisis reaction; instead, may increase the treatment frequency by 3 to 4 times a week.
- Reflexology for Lumber vertebrae: Continue walking downwards for 5-bites to cover five lumbar vertebrae, until reaching a point straight below the medial malleolus. Repeat walking two times.
- Reflexology for Sacral vertebrae: Continue walking downwards five bites to cover the five sacral spines. Repeat walking twice. Reflexology therapy for sacral reflexes reduces the lower backache pain.
- Reflexology for Coccyx vertebrae: Continue walking downwards three bites towards the heel bone. Repeat walking three times.
Spinal friction is a special technique; it stimulates & warm the spinal column. Place the hand palm on the inner edge of the foot and rub it. Before and after the spinal column reflexology therapy, perform spinal friction technique.