Travel Tips For People With Chronic Back Pain

July 19, 2012 By Stephen Thwaites 5 Comments

Travel can be stressful for anyone, but it is extra stressful for those with chronic back pain. Whether by car, bus, train or plane, prolonged sitting is the hallmark of long-distance travel. For people with back pain, this often means increased pain.

There are steps travelers can take to reduce the negative impacts that travel has on their backs. Consider the following list of tips to bring the merry back into this holiday season.

Find Ways To Move: Inactivity leads to stiff muscles and joints. Motion is needed to get blood pumping through your tissues. Those who drive their own vehicle while traveling have the advantage of being able to take several breaks to stretch and move around. People using trains and buses are more limited, but can take advantage of stops. Plane travelers find themselves at the most disadvantage in this area.

It may feel odd, but it is possible to stretch while on a plane. Be courteous of fellow passengers and flight staff. You can ask staff if you may walk up and down the aisle between snack services, and ask your seat neighbor if he or she minds if you do some light stretching. Seat stretches are non-invasive by nature, so it is unlikely anyone would object. See the link at the bottom of this page for examples of stretches to do on a plane.

Make Use of Seating Aides: No matter what kind of dreadful seat you’re given, you can make use of inexpensive ergonomic seating aides to maximize comfort. Foot rests are handy for people who won’t have the option to adjust seat height. Dangling feet leave the job of supporting the legs to the lower back, pelvis and thighs, causing strain on muscles and joints.

Lumbar support cushions are available for people who have a hard time maintaining their lumbar curve while sitting. This is a common problem, especially for people with weak cores. The cushion will help to maintain natural spinal curvature, which takes pressure off of muscles and discs.

Cushions can be of great assistance to people with sciatica. Sitting can exacerbate sciatica pain because it causes further compression of the nerve. A cushion can limit the pressure placed on the buttocks.

Sitting Posture: Proper posture is important for everyone, but is of key importance to people traveling with disc-related back pain like sciatica. While lumbar cushions and foot rests may be enough to relieve back pain for some people, those with sciatica should consider another seat feature: reclining.

A study by Canadian and Scottish researchers assessed the MRI results of the effects various sitting angles have on spinal discs. A 135 degree angle between the thighs and the upper body was found to place the least amount of stress on the discs of the spine. Sciatica and other nerve problems are often caused by disc herniation and bulging, therefore reclining slightly backward is optimal. This may not be possible while driving your own vehicle; if you have a fellow passenger, switch on and off and recline in the passenger’s seat. Note: While reclining, it is important to avoid craning your neck forward. A neck cushion could help you to maintain your natural cervical spine curve.

Exercises: Here are some stretches that can comfort your journey

Take the doom and gloom out of holiday travel this season by getting educated on the ways in which you can alleviate back pain during your trip. Attention to your bodily needs and a little help from ergonomics may be all you need to travel comfortably.

Article Source: EzineArticles

The Safety of Chiropractic: It’s literally safer than aspirin!

April 11, 2012 By Stephen Thwaites 7 Comments

The safety of any procedure, medical or chiropractic, is the first concern for the public safety. One wonders what this means when it comes to drug ads that end with a laundry list of side effects, including serious health problems and even death. Does chiropractic present any dangers to the public and if so, what are they?The risk of chiropractic procedures has been the subject of much study. With millions of chiropractic adjustments given each and every day around the world it’s important to the public, the profession and of course, the malpractice insurance companies. Because chiropractic has historically kept itself separate and unique from the medical profession it has found itself to be the object of attacks from medicine. Since evidence for the effectiveness of chiropractic in many health conditions continues to grow, the attack on chiropractic has moved to safety. What do the facts say regarding risk?

You are seven times more likely to get hit by lightening than have a stroke from a chiropractic adjustment.

No one pays closer attention to injury statistics than Malpractice Insurance carriers. Scott Haldeman, MD, DC reviewed malpractice claims records for a 10-year period between 1988 and 1997. In reviewing the outcomes following the application of 134.5 million cervical manipulations (commonly referred to as the chiropractic adjustment), the records indicated that there were 23 reported cases of stroke or vertebral artery dissection (VAD). Of this group, 10 of the patients had the complicating factors of high blood pressure, use of oral contraceptives, or a history of smoking, all of which are associated with vascular disease. The actual incidence of stroke or VAD following cervical manipulation was found to be one per 5.85 million cervical adjustments.That means that the average chiropractor would work for 1430 years (or practice 48 full chiropractic careers!) before they would see a single case of this type of incident.

The chart below shows the comparative risk of a number of common procedures and events to that of a chiropractic adjustment. Even the risk for stroke of something as common as birth control pills is over 200 times greater than a stroke from a chiropratcic adjustment.

Risk for	compared to chiropractic
Death from spinal fusion surgery	100,000
Death from cervical (neck) surgery	34,483
Death from hospital mistake	30,000
Death from laminectomy (spinal surgery)	25,000
Death from prolonged Aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, Aleve use.	4,166
Paralysis or stroke from back or neck surgery	3,571
Death from automobile accident	750
Stroke from Birth Control Pills	235
Get struck by lightening	7
Death from aviation accident	2.5

Notice you are 7 times more likely to get hit by lightening! Other reports listing a higher frequency of adverse events have been compromised by the tendency of those authors to inappropriately list the practitioner as a chiropractor, even when it turned out that the injury was caused by a medical doctor, a physical therapist or even a kung fu teacher and a hair dresser! And yet the reports typically refer to the treatment as a “chiropractic adjustment.”

The National College of Chiropractic Clinic reported that over a 15 year period over 5 million neck adjustments were given without a single vascular injury – and this is a student clinic with relatively inexperienced doctors performing the procedures.

Rather than raising concerns about the safety of chiropractic, these studies emphasize that spinal manipulation, in the hands of a in the hands of a trained chiropractor, spinal adjustment is extremely safe. However, in the hands of unskilled practitioners they can be dangerous, and the practice must be closely regulated. This is why chiropractic exists as a separate profession. To provide you with safe and effective care, not a physical therapist or a medical doctor who attended a weekend course on spinal manipulation (yes, they do have these). All chiropractors complete 2 years of pre-doctoral training followed by 4 years of doctoral training and a one year internship. I had my Bachelors of Science in Nutrition from Ohio University prior to chiropractic school.

The American Journal of Pediatrics found that chiropractic is the most used alternative health care choice for children. One of the largest studies on chiropractic safety is the New Zealand Federal Government’s 18 month “Inquiry on Chiropractic” published in 1979. The study concluded that “chiropractic is remarkably safe” and further stated that “chiropractic is the only health profession equipped by their education and training to carry out this procedure.”

Reference: Youcanbewell

Weight and Back Health

April 11, 2012 By Stephen Thwaites 5 Comments

Is Your Weight Gain Contributing To Your Back Pain?

People who are overweight and suffer from back pain must be aware that their weight can be contributing to their back discomfort. People who are obese, have a greater risk of suffering from pain do to common issues such as lack of energy, shortness of breath, and lack of exercise. People who refrain from exercise become or live a sedimentary type lifestyle resulting in stiffness and soreness in their back.

Here are some reasons for the added chronic back problems.

Extra weight causes spinal problems – For every pound that a person gains, this weight gain will put added pressure on the ligaments and muscles in the lower back area. This extra weight can eventually cause spinal curvature resulting in pinched nerves and added disc pressure.
Spinal curvature – This can be caused from the extra weight such as slumping while sitting in a chair, or slumping while walking can both contribute to added pain in the pelvis area of the back.
Pain while sleeping – When one tries to sleep it can be almost impossible to get a good night’s sleep do to the extra weight causing back discomfort in just about any sleeping position.

How can you help eliminate this back pain?

Determine what is causing your pain – First and foremost, let your doctor or health professional determine the cause of your back problem. Sometimes trying to do it on your own is not the best formula for success, so always check first with your health professional.
Eliminate belly fat – Most of the time excess fat is carried around the mid-section which in many cases will cause added back discomfort. Start an approved exercise program to help lose your belly fat. You must also change your eating habits to reduce your calorie intake. Remember
Back exercises – There are many back exercises available that show you how to stretch your muscles and get relief almost immediately. If you are overly obese I would first consult your physician before doing any type of exercise so not to cause any further back damage.

Article by: Jerry Standefer on EzineArticles

New Trends : High – Tech Lifestyle Syndrome Part 1

April 11, 2012 By Stephen Thwaites 4 Comments

Poor Telephone Posture Causes Problems-Chiropractic can Fix!

Your position when holding the telephone receiver can cause problems in the neck area which lead to headaches, neck tension, pain and stiffness. An estimated four million Americans suffer from chronic headaches, most of which are caused by neck problems. One major contributor to displaced vertebrae in the neck is the telephone.

Most people do not realize that awkward positioning, such as cradling the phone on the shoulder and bending the neck to fit the ear to the receiver, can throw the upper region of the spine (neck) out of balance. Pain can result as vertebrae become misaligned or locked, leading to abnormal muscle contraction and irritation of the nerves of the spine.

Headaches, another symptom of such a misalignment, are another way the body signals that something is wrong. Headache sufferers spend almost $2 billion a year on over-the-counter pain remedies that do not correct the problem. Painkillers only cover up symptoms that may become more serious. The cause of the headaches remains.

One proper posture, to avoid pain from vertebral misalignment when using a telephone, is to sit up straight, keep your head level and switch hands from time to time to equalize tension. Another is always hold the telephone with one of your hands and never cradle it between the neck and shoulder.
Chiropractic care can dramatically reduce headache pain because it corrects nerve system dysfunction that causes headaches. If your work requires repetitive actions that strain the neck and back, seek regular chiropractic adjustments to restore proper nerve system function. Feeling great can become an everyday occurrence with regular chiropractic care.

Reference: drmaj

New Trends : High – Tech Lifestyle Syndrome Part 2

April 11, 2012 By Stephen Thwaites 9 Comments

iPads Could Encourage Bad Posture!

Apple’s new iPad device is so sleek and seemingly simple to use that one could easily imagine using it for hours on end, but doing so might not be so great for your body, experts say.
Apple’s latest wonder gadget, with Wi-Fi and 3G versions set to ship in March and April, respectively, joins a growing rank of portable, wired devices that includes laptops, netbooks, smartbooks, e-book readers and smart phones.

These lightweight, mobile computers give users unfettered access to the Internet anytime and from anywhere, but many of them suffer from an inherent design flaw, namely the “co-location” of the keyboard and monitor, said Anthony Andre, founder of Interface Analysis Associates (IAA) and a professor of Human Factors at San Jose State University.
“You are taking two things that belong in different locations and merging them together,” Andre told TechNewsDaily.

The airport posture

The posture many of us assume when working on a laptop or other mobile device can put a strain on our bodies. Andre calls this position – which typically involves sitting hunched over, with rounded shoulders, laptop on lap, and arms held close to the body – the “airport posture.”
“The thinner and more mobile the device, the worse it is, because you end up in more situations where you normally wouldn’t even use a laptop,”Andre said. “The negative side to mobility and the thin tablet approach is you end up in more places with it and you take it out more often than you maybe would a laptop.”

The iPad includes a bigger version of the virtual keyboard used in Apple’s iPhone, but typing on the iPad’s glass display might not prove as comfortable as on the iPhone.
“With the phone, you can bring it up to your face, but [with the iPad] you have to put it on your lap if you’re going to do some serious two-handed typing,” Andre said.

“But once you do that, you have this little flat disk on your lap and you’re talking about the opposite of where computer work stations have come with their articulating keyboard trays that try to put you in a good posture,” he said.

Apple does sell keyboards that work with the iPad, as well as a cover for the tablet computer that can double as a stand to prop it up at an angle. But the majority of people who use the iPad won’t use these accessories most of the time, Andre said. “A few people will take advantage of the keyboard … but that only works if you’re using it at your desktop and that just makes it a deficient desktop [computer],” he said.

Neck and back problems

David Rempel, a doctor at the University of California, San Francisco who sees plenty of laptop-related pain in his consulting work, also worries about the iPad’s ergonomics.

While the iPad “creates a wonderful opportunity in terms of mobility and ease of interaction, … [it] poses a similar type of musculoskeletal problems as the laptop,” Rempel said in a telephone interview. Working on a laptop for long periods of time puts a heavy load on a user’s neck and upper back, causing fatigue and pain, according to Rempel.

Large U.S.-based companies that shifted their workforce away from desktops to laptops to increase productivity found their workers suffered from more neck and back problems, Rempel said.

Tips for mobile computing

If you have to go mobile, here are a few suggestions for minimizing the burden on your body:

Reduce time of use. The single most important factor in determining the impact of mobile-device use on musculoskeletal problems is the time spent on the device, Rempel said. One hour per day is not a problem; eight hours a day is a big deal.
If the device is used for long periods, Andre advises: “Minimize the amount of time you spend on it in a given instance. Take frequent micro-breaks and do something opposite with your body — stretch neck and arms in opposite direction [from the hunched over position].”
Be smart about your interactions, Andre said. Try to minimize the number of long stints of typing on a mobile device. Instead, consider other ways of communicating, that’s right you can pick up the good old-fashioned and cord-bearing telephone. Another idea is to use voice-recognition software.

Reference: iPadnewsdaily

What is Osteopathy?

April 11, 2012 By Stephen Thwaites 7 Comments

Osteopathy is a “whole body” system of manual therapy, based on unique biomechanical principles, which uses a wide range of techniques to treat musculo-skeletal problems and other functional disorders of the body.

Osteopaths are government registered practitioners and complete a minimum of five years’ university training in anatomy, physiology, pathology, general medical diagnosis and osteopathic techniques. Osteopaths are primary healthcare practitioners specialising in manual medicine with the philosophy that a healthy body relies on a structurally sound musculo-skeletal system. Only when the framework of the body ie bones, joints and muscles are working smoothly and harmoniously can the other systems of the body function at their best.

Osteopathy best known for the treatment of a wide variety of musculo-skeletal problems.
Also has a role to play in the management of a number of other conditions and when used in conjunction with medical treatment can be of value in reducing the severity of symptoms in conditions such as asthma, gynaecological dysfunction and chronic fatigue.

Many mothers-to-be find Osteopathic treatment very beneficial both to reduce back pain during pregnancy and also to help prepare the body for birth. In addition, there is a wide variety of gentle non-manipulative techniques for use on infants and small children. These can be used in the management of problems such as forceps trauma, infant colic and “glue ear.”

Central to osteopathy is the study of ‘biomechanics’ – how each part of the musculo-skeletal system interacts with and influences every other part. Any joint or muscle injury must therefore be treated in the context of the whole body, since other parts of the musculo-skeletal system will also be affected.
For instance, an ankle injury may mean that the patient limps and favours the other foot. Over time, this imbalance can lead to secondary injuries, such as soreness in the other ankle, knee or hip, or perhaps back pain.

Osteopaths will devise a strategy of treatment that takes into account the entire musculo-skeletal system. Attention is also given to other systems of the body – such as the circulatory, nervous and lymphatic systems – since these all play significant roles in the healing process.

How does chiropractic work?

April 10, 2012 By Stephen Thwaites 2 Comments

It’s actually pretty simple. We know that the nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) controls all the other systems in the human body. It coordinates all your body’s functions, movement, your sense of the world, how you think, feel and express emotions. The nervous system is so important to our health that it is protected by the spine and its 24 movable vertebrae. Vertebrae can move out of alignment with each other, which puts pressure on the nearby spinal nerves. This affects the flow of information and in turn the function of muscles, organs and tissues of the body.This interference is called a subluxation and can be detrimental to your health. Chiropractors are trained to locate and remove subluxations. Chiropractors adjust the spine with the aim of removing subluxations. When the subluxation is removed, normal movement returns to the spinal joints. This also takes pressure off the nerves and allows the proper flow of information, leading to restored health. To sum it up – we take away interference from the nervous system so the body can do what its got to do! By undertaking a program of care with us the benefits to you as a patient can be immense.

Ongoing surveys of patients at Access Back Care reveal that they notice a whole range of improvements in their health as their spinal subluxations are corrected and their nervous system responds favorably. Increased energy levels, more movement and flexibility, no pain, better digestion, improved mood, coping better, hearing better, seeing better, better balance, breathing easier and lower blood pressure are some common responses that patients mention. Parents of children having chiropractic note reduced bed wetting, better attention span and concentration levels, more happiness, less bad behaviour.