HOW THE DAMAGE IS DONE
The various structures of the human back together form a complex piece of engineering. The backbone at one end is balanced on a tilting pelvis, and the other holds up a heavy head; at the same time it provides support for the movement of the arms and legs.
The skeletal system forms a mechanism which, although not properly ossified, is functionally complete at birth; it goes into full operation whenever a baby learns to stand and walk upright. The bones consolidate their shape during the teenage years and, under ideal conditions, should work perfectly for a lifetime. In practice, as we know, it is often otherwise. There are a great many ways in which the balance of the mechanism can be disturbed. Sometimes the damage is done all in an instant, as the result of a single violent incident. At other times, it is cumulative, the conclusion of a long series of small stresses. It has been thought that parts of the back, like those of any domestic appliance, may simply wear out through constant use. But there is no very good evidence for this: the resilience of most of the human body tends to belie such notions.
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