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Bad habits that hurts your back

December 19th, 2011 | Add a Comment

The numbers are astounding: Back pain will affect 80 percent of us at some point in our lives. Whether it’s a dull ache or a sharp stabbing sensation, back pain comes in all shapes and sizes. If you don’t yet have back pain, you might be surprised to learn that an obvious injury isn’t the only cause. Often it can result from repeated bad habits that stress your body. If you’re battling back pain now and need better pain management or want to take steps for back pain prevention, make the effort to undo these bad habits: Not exercising. ”The failure to perform any exercise, particularly abdominal strengthening exercises, may lead to poor posture and increased low back pain,” says Nancy E. Epstein, MD, chief of neurosurgical spine and education at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y. … Read entire article »

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Healthy spine tips

December 19th, 2011 | Add a Comment

Millions of people are affected by back pain every day. And beyond living with the pain itself, this kind of condition diminishes your quality of life — you often miss work and social activities that you enjoy and may not be able to accomplish even simple, everyday necessities. Taking care of your spine — that is, your back and neck — now will help you lower the chances of experiencing back pain later. Many of the steps you can take to improve the overall health of your spine involve nothing more than practicing better body mechanics — how you move and hold yourself — when you do daily tasks and activities. Taking Care of Your Spine Here are simple yet important adjustments to make for spine health: Lift right. It’s very easy to twist the wrong way and … Read entire article »

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Managing Nighttime Back Pain

December 17th, 2011 | Add a Comment

Getting through the day with back pain can be tough, but when the pain revs up at night as you’re trying to sleep, it can be the last straw. It’s no surprise that the National Sleep Foundation reports that about two-thirds of people who have chronic pain don’t sleep well. So how can you get a good night’s sleep if back pain is keeping you awake? Discovering back pain relief that’s effective for you may take some trial and error. In some cases, it might be as simple as getting a new mattress, or adding or changing pillows so that you’re sleeping in a more comfortable position. Find the Right Formula for Back Pain Relief Here are some ideas for getting better sleep with back pain: Try a body pillow. Physiotherapist and back pain expert Malton A. Schexneider, … Read entire article »

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Manage Pregnancy Back Pain

December 17th, 2011 | Add a Comment

If you’re expecting a baby and living with pregnancy back pain, especially in your lower back, you’re not alone. Up to 80 percent of pregnant women experience back pain at some point in theirpregnancy. And, while the reasons are easy to track down, finding back pain relief that’s tailored to your particular situation may take a bit of trial and error, says physiotherapist and back pain expert Malton A. Schexneider, PT, MMSc. What Causes Pregnancy Back Pain Pregnancy-related back pain has several causes. The most obvious one is the extra weight you’re carrying around and the change it makes in your center of gravity. Because your weight falls disproportionably to the front, it throws off your posture and can end up causing pain. In addition, when you’re pregnant, your body prepares for delivery by increasing … Read entire article »

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Back Pain Relief for fresh injury

December 17th, 2011 | Add a Comment

Witnessing someone hurt their back can be a scary experience. That moment of watching someone go from full mobility to practical paralysis can leave you with a lot of questions: Should you be rush  them to the ER? Should you apply ice or heat? What position is best for achieving back pain relief? How long will it take to recover? These are all common concerns. Back Pain Relief: When Is Emergency Care Warranted? In most cases, there’s no need to rush to the emergency room to achieve back pain relief. “The person doesn’t need emergency care unless they can’t feel their legs or have severe numbness going down their legs,” says Cynthia Gormezano, MPT, owner of Cynergy Physical Therapy in New York City. Another case in which a hospital visit is warranted is if there is stinging … Read entire article »

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Coping With Chronic Back Pain

December 17th, 2011 | Add a Comment

Ow! My back hurts!” is a line we’ve all heard at one time or another from almost everyone we know. And there’s a good reason for that. It’s estimated that back pain is the second most common issue that causes people to see their doctor. It’s only beaten out by bouts of colds and the flu. Chronic back pain is also the second most common neurological pain, just behind headaches. When you have chronic back pain, the first reaction is to protect your back and avoid more pain, perhaps by staying in bed or by doing as little as possible. Is this really a good idea? No, says Kentucky physiotherapist and back pain expert Malton A. Schexneider, PT, MMSc. “Research has shown many times that activity is the key to a healthy back,” he says. … Read entire article »

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Core Exercises to Relieve Back Pain

December 17th, 2011 | Add a Comment

When your back hurts, all you probably want to do is curl up in bed or on the couch and rest, waiting for the pain to end and the healing to proceed. But if you really want to help your back muscles get stronger and minimize your back pain, one of the most effective treatments may be one of the most surprising —exercise. Several studies have found that doing yoga or stretching can help relieve back soreness and even help you cut back on the amount of pain medication you’re taking for back problems. But you don’t need to sign up for a class. A simple at-home fitness routine can go a long way toward strengthening your back muscles and reducing pain and pressure. Before You Start How do you know where to … Read entire article »

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How Chiropractors Treat Back Pain

December 17th, 2011 | Add a Comment

A chiropractor uses spinal manipulation and other techniques to help ease back pain. Therapy generally takes a number of visits for it to be effective. One option for people who are seeking back pain treatment is to seek the help of a chiropractor. This specially trained health professional believes that alignment of the spine is related to the overall health and wellbeing of the individual. By incorporating that belief into treatment, with particular attention to the spine, chiropractic care may be able to provide pain management for back pain patients using a variety of methods to achieve that goal. Close to 18 million adults and 2 million children receive chiropractic treatments for pain therapy and other conditions every year. Chiropractic methods have been shown to be effective in reducing pain among people with back … Read entire article »

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Plenty tips for back pain relief

December 17th, 2011 | Add a Comment

Sometimes all it takes is bending over to pick up a pen from the floor for back pain to strike. Fortunately, most of the time back pain is short term and goes away on its own. But if you experience chronic back pain, you may benefit from making certain everyday adjustments. In fact, lifestyle has the biggest influence on back pain, and healthy habits such as a good diet, exercising, stretching, and posture can give you back pain relief or help you prevent future problems. Make these steps part of your back pain treatment plan: Maintain a healthy weight. Staying fit is one of the most important recommendations for avoiding back pain, says Santiago Figuereo, MD, neurological surgeon and founder and medical director of the Miami Neurological Institute. Extra pounds stress your back and can cause … Read entire article »

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