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Is our Human Spine a Hopeless Design?
The subsequent insightful article is a section of our Advanced Yoga Teacher Training manual. Instead of merely presenting ideas, its primary purpose is to ignite curiosity, the cornerstone of education.
Something quite astounding happened around 800,000 years ago—humans developed the ability to make and control fire. This enlightening moment was not just a leap in survival; it made humans smarter, more resourceful, and infinitely more curious. New expressions, new feelings, and heightened emotions emerged, marking a profound shift in human consciousness. As a result, the grey matter in our brains tripled in size over the course of evolution. We've advanced economically, socially, and psychologically. Some even say we're at the peak of human evolution.
But here's a question: Has the human body evolved at the same pace as our ever-expanding brain? And more specifically, what about the human spine? If our brain has evolved so quickly, but our spine hasn’t kept up, could that be the root of the chronic back pain epidemic we face today?
Take a moment to look around, or do the smallest amount of research, and you'll find we are in the midst of a back pain-demic. Low back pain is now the leading cause of disability worldwide. Some experts claim as much as 80% of the population will experience a back problem at some point in their lives. Those numbers are staggering.
The Spine: A Legacy from Another Time?
So why do we have such high numbers for chronic lower back pain? Could it be that our spines are not suited for the rigors of modern life? Think about it—our brains have evolved to meet the demands of a complex, rapidly changing world. Yet our spines may still be better suited to a time when survival meant carrying heavy loads, like bringing a fresh carcass back to camp, rather than spending hours hunched over a desk or behind the wheel of a car.
Is our modern-day spine really designed for sitting and driving for hours on end? For running extreme distances? For long hours of yoga, sport, and the everyday stresses we place on it? Perhaps the tightly woven fabric of our spinal discs, once built to support the stress of carrying carcasses, is now overstrained by sitting at a desk or tying our shoelaces.
This disconnect between our evolved brains and our primitive spines might be at the heart of the problem. While we’ve transformed mentally and socially, our spinal structure remains rooted in ancient times, a mismatch that causes widespread pain.
Spinal Flexion and Modern Life
Research indicates that we have around 25,000 flexions in our spine before the collagen in our discs starts to deteriorate (McGill, 2015). If you think about it, that’s about 312 spinal flexions a year—only 26 a month. Less than one flexion per day. And we likely use up our monthly quota before breakfast. Consider how often you bend over in just one day—getting out of bed, picking up your shoes, reaching for something on a low shelf. Now imagine the toll that this daily routine takes on a spine still designed for tasks more akin to dragging home food, not bending to retrieve a pen from under your desk.
It begs the question: Is the modern human spine hopelessly outdated? Are we pushing it beyond its natural limits with the demands of modern life?
And this leads to an even bigger question—if our spines are so fragile, how can we possibly maintain their health when we’re bombarded with daily stresses? From fitness routines to long hours spent in front of screens, the spine is forced to flex, compress, and extend far beyond what it was ever designed to do. This presents a deeper challenge: How can we honor our evolutionary blueprint while adapting to a fast-paced world that has little regard for the health of our spines?
The Bigger Picture: Evolution vs. Modernity
Is it possible that the very thing that makes us human—our rapid evolution and brainpower—is what’s working against us? Our ancestors were once aquatic creatures, and even as they evolved, many of our early predecessors weren’t even upright beings. Over time, we adapted, but we’re still carrying the legacy of a spine built for a four-legged existence. Are we the victims of an evolutionary paradox?
American Chiropractic Association. 2021. Back Pain Facts and Statistics. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.acatoday.org/Patients/What-is-Chiropractic/Back-Pain-Facts-and-Statistics/Back-Pain-Facts-and-Statistics. [Accessed 5 March 2021].
Bryson, B., 2020. The Body: A Guide for Occupants. 3rd ed. England: Black Swan, page 9.
Gordon, R. and Bloxham, S., 2016. A Systematic Review of the Effects of Exercise and Physical Activity on-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, [Online]. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4934575/ [Accessed 7 March 2021].
McGill, S, 2015. Low Back Disorders: Evidence-Based Prevention and Rehabilitation. 3rd ed. Canada: Human Kinetics, page 143
Noah Harari, Y., 2015. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. 1st ed. England: Vintage, page 13-14
Science Daily. 2012. Evidence that human ancestors used fire one million years ago. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402162548.htm. [Accessed 5 March 2021].
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Zahir Akram - Eternal Seeker
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