Ignoring Back Pain Can Lead to Serious Problems

Many people have felt soreness in their back after doing exercise or prolonged manual labor. It is a common feeling to be a little stiff after strenuous activity, especially in the lower back region of the spine. For most people, the soreness and stiffness goes away over time, usually within a day or so. But for some, the pain in the back lingers, becoming more and more of a nuisance, hindering their ability to comfortably perform everyday tasks.

Spinal injuries can be very serious, and without proper attention can lead to lifelong problems including limited mobility and constant pain. It is very important for anyone experience prolonged back pain to seek help from a doctor specializing in spinal issues. Trying to live through the pain can cause irreversible damage to spinal discs, causing them to rupture or to become herniated.

Depending on the type of spinal injury, the doctor may recommend any number of treatments geared toward alleviating back pain and allowing the patient to live a normal, mobile life. One way to treat and prevent back pain and spinal injury is weight resistance training. Exercises such as dead lifts, squats, leg presses and cable rows (among others that utilize the back muscles and spine) can have a significant impact on the health and strength of a person's back. It is important, however, to perform these exercises correctly and under supervision from a spinal doctor or strength training professional or else the patient can cause even more damage to the spinal region. The spine should remain straight during all exercises as to not put excess stress on the spine, which could lead to a more serious back injury.

Other options for treating back pain may include something as simple as taking anti-inflammatory medication or the use of a heating pad. However, this is usually just the first step to treating back pain. If the pain persists for more than a few days, it is imperative that the individual consults a spinal physician. Physical therapy, steroid injections, muscle relaxants, chiropractic treatment, spinal decompression and an MRI may be recommended. In severe cases, though, surgery is the only option to repair a damaged disc or spinal problem.

Spinal surgery includes the removal of the damaged portion of the disc, which reduces the pressure on the nerves. If the patient has a degenerative condition such as Spondylolisthesis, spinal fusion surgery can be done to fuse vertebrae together in order to prevent slippage. The recovery time of most spinal surgeries can be long and painful, but when compared to living with a lifetime of pain, can be the best option.

Living with constant back pain can be a great burden on an individual. Ignoring the signs of a more serious spinal problem can lead to even greater pain and irreversible damage, including paralysis. Consult a spinal surgeon or physician specializing in matters of the spine and back if you experience prolonged pain and a limited range of motion. Don't ignore the signs of a potentially dangerous and life-altering spinal disorder.

Discogenic Low Back Pain - Symptoms, Treatment & Pain Relief Options

How is your lower back doing lately?

Do you suffer from discogenic low back pain, or want to know more about it?

1.) Introduction

Lower back pain is not as uncommon as one may think. Ninety percent of the adult population has experienced back pain in their life. Every year, fifty percent of the work force in the United States complains about back discomfort on some level. Lumbar discomfort can result from spinal stenosis, disc herniation or lumbar sprain, for example. It can also be caused by a degenerative condition such as discogenic low back problems. Discogenic refers to having one or more intervertebral discs as the source of the pain.

2.) Discogenic Low Back Pain Symptoms

Discogenic low back pain can simply be pointed to aging. During our body's aging process, several changes will occur. For example, our skin will continue to lose its elasticity, or our hair will turn gray. Aging also affects our spine, especially the intervertebral discs. During the first stage of intervertebral disc degeneration, one may not feel symptoms, and severe pain is usually absent. However, as the degenerative process continues, that is the time one will experience low back discomfort.

There are activities and involuntary movements that trigger the pressure on intervertebral disc such as bending forward, sitting, sneezing and coughing. These activities can elevate the pain on people suffering from discogenic low back pain. Radiculopathy, which can include leg pain that resulted by applying pressure on the nerves of one's lower back, is also associated with discogenic low back pain.

In diagnosing if one has a discogenic ailments, a physician may do a discography, which is a procedure wherein discs that are thought to be the cause are injected with a contrast dye to be seen under fluoroscopy. This procedure will allow the physician to assess the discs by knowing their shape and size. Similarly, the injection of contrast dye may reveal the pain pattern of the sufferer that will help pinpoint which disc is the source of the pain.

3.) Non-Surgical Treatment for Discogenic Low Back Pain

It is important to emphasize that surgery is not the only option in treating discogenic low back pain. Non-surgical treatments that are heralded by many doctors as effective are available.

One of non-surgical treatments available is physical therapy. This includes transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS), ultrasound and forms of massage are used in combination to relieve pain. Strengthening exercises for the lower back and abdominal muscles and stretching are applied in physical therapy.

4.) Back Support & Its Benefits

Back braces have been found to be effective tools in relieving pain and aiding the recovery of a low back pain sufferer. Back braces help alleviate the pain in the back area significantly and this should not be over looked. Many patients who have used back braces have seen a huge improvement in their situation. These supports can also foster proper posture to help speed up the recovery. Lumbar back supports are known to restrict certain movements that will further cause pain in your back. What is great about back braces is that they are created to give support directed to the lumbarsacral spine to help relieve the pressure off the lower back. Many physicians will also recommend them to the patient that have discogenic back pain. If you are interested in this alternative treatment and support, it is important to choose a back brace that is light and hardly noticeable when worn under a t-shirt then this conservative treatment option can really help you.

*This is health information. We obviously believe in the use of a well designed back supports, and our experience is positive with them. However, it is best to talk to your doctor about medical advice pertaining to your particular situation.

Known Side Results of Chiropractic Care

Any form of health system intervention poses the risks of developing certain ill effects and chiropractic care is one of them. Although there are a a couple of them, gaining knowledge about potential ill effects that may be brought about by chiropractic care will help one prevent the possibility of it evolving into a more severe condition that may be life-threatening.

Common Side Effects

Ever since its emergence, chiropractic care has been receiving praises in the medical industry for introducing a brand of medical treatment that is effective and yet safe. For once, it lacks the use of invasive medical approaches that can be both hazardous and costly. Yet, bad effects with chiropractic care cannot be fully avoided attributable to differences in the way a patient's body adjusts to the chiropractic manipulation or the extent of the harm.

If there are any side effect to be experienced from the use of chiropractic remedy, they're mostly mild and pose no real threat to someone's health. For instance, a patient suffers from a feeling of soreness or slight pain on the part of the body where adjustments were done. In other cases, patients reported of having minor headaches after undergoing chiropractic remedy. Any form of pain experienced during therapy are thanks to the exertion of pressure and force on the spine by the chiropractor performing the adjustments.

How Common or Rare Is It?

Minor side effects vary from feeling of fatigue, soreness, headaches, among others and they're all short term. Plus, patients who go through them only cover a minor percentage of patients undergoing chiropractic care.

Another benefit of chiropractic remedies that you ought to use is the lack of drug prescription or use of surgical methods to remedy the medical condition. As a consequence, patients who need chiropractic care must not hesitate to proceed since any risks of developing bad effects is very low. In point of fact, it is determined to be the least risky way of health care treatment available in the medical profession.

Serious Side Effects

Several publications falsely claim that there are serious side effects brought about by spinal manipulation or other chiropractic treatments. Stroke is one of them. They claim the stroke is a consequence of the manipulation on the neck that create injury to the arteries that transport blood into the brain.

The case of chiropractic patients acquiring stroke as an effect of the operation is a rare incident though. In fact, statistics indicate that only 1 out of a million chiropractic patients are going to produce stroke. Hence, the risks of developing this particular ill effect can virtually be considered non-existent.

When Is Chiropractic Care Not Recommended?

Majority of chiropractic treatments provide immediate relief for patients. Even so, when pain continues even after the initial treatment procedure, it is recommended that the chiropractic remedy is continued for the next fortnight until the symptoms of their condition subsides. If there are no signs of improvement, then doctors re-think other therapy options apart from chiropractic care.

There are certain instances or disorders though wherein chiropractic isn't the best recommended type of treatment to go through. Among them are infection in the bones or joints, acute rheumatoid arthritis, bone cancer, osteoporosis, or other diseases in the bone marrow or spinal cord.

How You Can Prevent Them

There is no better way to guard yourself againt any serious complications that may arise from contracting bad effects on a way to address procedure than to prevent it. Here is how you can do it:

Talk with your chiropractors about possible ill effects that can develop from a treatment method. This will enable you to take proper measures in making sure that the bad effects do not aggravate or if there are any ways for you to prevent them.

Try speaking to previous chiropractic patients to determine what side effects they experienced (if any) and discuss how they addressed it.

When you experience side effects that last beyond 24 to 48 hours, ensure to inform your medical physician or chiropractor immediately.

Herniated Disc and Running - Symptoms, Treatment and Pain Relief Options

How is your back doing?

Did you hurt your lower back while running? Or, does the pain flare up when you do go out for a jog?

1.) Introduction to This Article

Lower back pain due to a herniated disc will try to limit nearly all of your activities of daily living. Herniated discs do not care if you are sitting in a chair, running or carrying something, for example. If agitated they will let you know and one of the ways that they do this is by pressing on your spinal nerves. - This free article is for those of you that want to help reduce your back pain and promote healing of an injured disc. We have studied back pain and we are here to help you.

2.) Running & Herniated Discs

Back pain is unfortunately very common, experienced at some point in the lives of up to 80 percent of our population. Within the life span of a runner, this percentage is said to increase, being somewhere between 8 - 9 out of every ten runners. This can be justified by the fact that runners place 3-4 times their body weight on each of their legs when they run. This is a pounding that will eventually reach the lower back and can cause you pain. If you happen to have a leg length discrepancy (LLD) then this can also place you at a higher risk for lower back problems when you run.

Any activity that increases stress on your spine, by increasing axial load can also further your back pain. For example, when you sit, or stand you have much more stress (due to gravity and weight) on your spine. When you lay down, typically the stress placed on the spine is less than standing or sitting. - One interesting point is that research has indicated that running can actually place less stress on your intervertebral discs than pressure that is caused from sitting in a chair.

3.) Back Support

One of the best conservative treatment options for helping to reduce pain is to use a lower back brace. These supports can be easily concealed by the use of a t-shirt and they are typically light weight in design. They do not cure you the instant you put them on, but what does happen is that they can help you avoid movements that can cause you pain or further an injury level. This is huge if you have herniated a disc. The increase in intercavitary pressure that a well designed brace can provide can biomechanically off load your aching spinal elements and help to give you pain relief as well. This is a medically documented benefit of a quality back support.

* This is health information. Although we firmly believe in the use of a well designed lower back brace, it is best to talk with your physician regarding medical advice for your particular situation.

Treatment For Scoliosis

The spine has normal curves which gives the convexity of the thoracic spine and concavity of the lumbar spine. In scoliosis, there is abnormality in the normal curvature of the spine with associated rotation of the vertebra.

Scoliosis may start in infancy but more prevalent in adolescents. Epidemiology shows that female are more likely to have scoliosis than males with a ratio of 2:1. For curves greater than 30 degrees, the ratio increases to 8-10; with females greatly affected than males.

Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common type. The etiology remains unknown, but is believe to be hereditary.
Body asymmetry is very common in scoliosis, though it may not be noticeable in mild cases. In severe cases, body deformity, back pains, postural weakness and in extreme cases heart failure may also be present. Most of the time, scoliosis needs frequent follow up to avoid worsening. In severe cases, surgical intervention may be needed under a qualified orthopedic surgeon who is best qualified for these types of condition.

Non-Operative Treatment

The non-operative treatment starts with the diagnosis, with the use of X-ray and wearing spinal brace to correct the deformity. Physical therapy rehabilitation has shown little effect for scoliosis.

Why Surgery?

The following are the reasons for indication of surgical treatment for scoliosis:

1. To avoid progressive increase in the angle of curvature.
2. Is the method of choice once bracing failed.
3. For improvement of appearance.
4. To relieve muscular fatigue and pain.

Scoliosis Surgery

Most of the time, spinal fusion is done to correct scoliosis, this is done through bone grafting, spinal rods and implants. The rods are placed in the spine through hooks to straighten the spine. Bone grafts are then placed to aid in the fusion of the spine. After a few months, the grafts heal and become solid. Normal range of motion will still be achieved in areas that were not fused.

Managing Pain of Herniated Discs With Non Surgical Treatments Like Acupuncture

Managing and alleviating pain caused by herniated discs or disc injuries is a two-prong approach. First, is the actual treatment and second, is adjunctive therapy to ameliorate daily pain over the course of treatment.

Because treatment for herniated discs (and many back injuries for that matter) typically requires more than one treatment session before substantial pain relief is achieved, adding pain management to the treatment regimen can greatly increase patient comfort over the course of treatment and can help accelerate the return to daily activities.

In addition to acupuncture, other successful pain management techniques for herniated discs include physical therapy and the Flexion-Distraction Technique by a chiropractor.

What Is A Herniated Disc?

A herniated or bulging disc is a displaced piece of the center part or nucleus of the disc that is pushed through a tear in the outer layers. Pain results when irritating substances are released from this tear and also if the jelly portion touches or compresses a nearby nerve. Disc herniation has some similarities to degenerative disc disease and discs that herniate are often in an early stage of degeneration, which is why immediate treatment is critical to the long-term health of a patient.

Acupuncture Therapy For Disc Related Back Pain

Acupuncture therapy cannot cure a herniated disc, but studies have shown that when acupuncture therapy is performed at the onset of symptoms, recovery time is improved and pain is decreased. As an adjunctive therapy to non-surgical back pain treatment, acupuncture therapy can help stimulate blood flow to the injured disc, and can help produce valuable endorphins that may be used by the body in the healing process. These endorphins help reduce swelling which may reduce pain.

An acupuncture treatment involves inserting fine needles into the skin, along the pathway of the pain. Since acupuncture needles are 25-50 times thinner than a hypodermic needle, most people feel no pain at all when the needle is inserted and often describe the experience as 'relaxing'.

Many chiropractors now include additional pain management treatments such as acupuncture to coincide with other non surgical herniated or bulging disc treatments including spinal decompression therapy or the Flexion-Distraction Technique (chiropractic).

More Non Surgical Treatment Options for Disc Injuries

Today patients have many more options with regards to treating a disc injury without the use of surgery. Other options include physical therapy, shock wave therapy, trigger point therapy, and spinal decompression therapy. The ultimate course of treatment is as individual as the patient. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for disc injuries. Diet and lifestyle changes may also be incorporated for long-term success.

Techniques For Reducing Pinched Nerve Treatments In The Winter

Once more, the cold cold months of winter are here. Most of us decide to hibernate during this time, since our absolute favorite outdoor activities tend to be more challenging to participate in. Some of us can be driven to stay energetic by means of jogging, biking, snowboarding, winter hiking, etc., and putting on more layers to do the activities we enjoy. I have recognized, during my ten years in practice, that there is a rise in the number of people entering the office this time of year, complaining of serious pain connected with pinched nerves.

The spine is made of individual spinal vertebrae and houses the spinal cord. The spinal cord stretches to every organ and system of the body by using a network of nerves leaving the vertebrae or bones of the spine. These vertebrae can easily turn and alter their placement resulting in pinching of the nerves of the body. This may result in soreness, feeling numb, tingling, a decrease of strength, along with a decrease of function. Other methods that nerves might pinch is simply by pressure from a spinal disc, also known as a herniated disc, as well as pressure coming from soft tissues which include muscle, ligament, or tendon. The most typical parts of the spine to get a pinched nerve is in the lower cervical spine, in the neck, especially at the fifth, sixth, or seventh cervical vertebrae.

A lot of men and women with cervical pinched nerves can have pain in the neck, shoulder, shoulder blade, any area of the arm, the wrist, and normally may have numbness or tingling in the fingers. A person may have any just one of these types of symptoms. I have several patients with a pinching of the nerves in their neck that only have discomfort inside their shoulder, pain in the wrist, occasionally confused with carpal tunnel syndrome, or even just numbness and tingling in their fingers, and they are unsure where the cause of the problem is originating from. They may have no neck pain or neck immobility but the reason for the difficulty is actually coming from the spine, as this is the location where the nerve begins. Easy orthopedic tests, and dermatome, each vertebrae is associated with a certain skin area where pain or numbness and tingling exists, tests can establish which vertebrae should be remedied to eliminate the pressure off the nerve.

Another popular area for a pinched nerve in the spine is in the lumbar spine, in the lower back, mainly the third, fourth, and fifth lumbar vertebrae. The most typical pinched nerve in this region of the spine is sometimes referred to as sciatica if it necessitates the sciatic nerve. The fourth lumbar is the origin of the sciatic nerve. With regards to this impingement, a patient might have pain just in the back of the leg, it can be shooting, sharp, as well as burning. They can have pain simply in the buttocks, or pain just in the foot or ankle. Just like in the neck they might not have any discomfort in the low back. Many of these people are convinced there is a leg or foot issue, when the reason for the problem is actually coming from much higher up in the spine.

The frigid winter months cause our muscles, tendons, and ligaments to be tighter than in the hotter temperatures. Envision our muscles, tendons, and ligaments similar to rubber. Rubber stretches more when in warmer temperatures, but loses elasticity in the colder weather. This is the same way the soft tissues of our body work. So, in the wintry temperature months our muscles, tendons, and ligaments will not be stretching out as a lot and are basically pulling somewhat harder on the vertebrae of the spine. This might lead to a vertebrae going out of alignment and triggering a pinching of a nerve.

Preventing Pinched Nerves

The most beneficial injury and pinched nerve prevention, when you are engaging in a task in winter months, would be to do a very delicate warm up. For about 10 minutes before you participate in the activity mimic the movements that you do in your activity. For example mild running, twisting, throwing, lifting, and this really should be at about 10 to 15 percent of your maximum output. This will increase blood flow to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments, allowing them to be more flexible and shock absorber ready.

Proper stretching after the warm-up, and then again after the exercise is key for attaining optimum injury prevention and hopefully protecting against pinched nerves. The issue is that stretching out is frequently carried out improperly. The majority of people extend too much and too rapidly. Stretches must be mild, and produce a relaxing sensation of gentle stretch or tension. There should be no pain, discomfort, or bouncing movements. The stretch should be kept for around thirty seconds, but no less than twenty. Stretching too strongly, or for less than twenty seconds might trigger a stretch response which could actually cause the muscle to tighten-up even more.

Degenerative Disc Disease Treatments For The Cervical and Lumbar Spine - Brace Specialists Near You

1.) Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease is not actually a disease. It is a term that is used, however, to describe changes that happen to your spinal discs as you get older. A normal progression for the discs is to age and as they get older there will be physical change. - Spinal discs are typically soft in nature and have an ability to compress (acting as shock absorbers). These discs allow your spine to move more freely in both flexing and twisting movements. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) can develop at any place in the spine, but it most often occurs in the lower back and cervical (neck) region.

Pain in the back at the site of the DDD can develop, along with osteoarthritis, a herniated disc and/or spinal stenosis. These all can be related to the changes we are talking about with your discs.

A.) Osteoarthritis: This is the break down of cartilage that protects and actually helps to cushion the joints.
B.) Herniated disc: This occurs when there is an irregular bulge or when the spinal disc breaks open.
C.) Spinal stenosis: This refers to the narrowing of an individuals spinal canal. The spinal canal is what houses the spinal cord.

As a result of these conditions, more pressure may be exerted on the spinal cord and this may lead to pain and compromised nerve function.

2.) Causes of DDD (Degenerative Disc Disease)

As a person ages, our spinal discs begin to age as well. They break down (degenerate) which causes a loss of fluid in the disc (loss of elasticity) and as a result they will lose some of their ability to act as shock absorbers. Loss of fluid in the disc also makes the affected disc thinner and this will narrow the distance that once was found between each vertebra (spinal bone).

3.) What Can A Brace Do To Help Me?

A quality made back support (either for your lumbar or cervical spine) will help to stop movements that will cause pain for your back. Many times when people put them on they notice a few key things:

A.) Pain Decreases
B.) Increased Spinal Stability
C.) Improved Posture

These back (or neck) braces do not heal degenerative disc disease. A cure for this problem is not widely available currently. However, a quality back support can help to relieve the painful symptoms of the problem and this can help to give you your life back! - The use of high grade orthopedic supports are a conservative treatment option that is recognized by physicians and other medical professionals throughout the world to help treat pain problems conservatively.

4.) Does Insurance Cover Back or Neck Braces?

It is very possible for your insurance to cover an orthosis (orthopedic brace support). If you are interested in any type of back (or neck) support contact your local licensed orthotist for more information. They will (almost always) help to facilitate a claim on your behalf, doing most of the leg work for you in the process. If the brace is not covered at 100 percent then many times a very large portion of the brace can be covered.

Note: This is health information. For medical advice regarding braces speak with your local, licensed orthotist.

Chiropractors in Tulsa, NUCCA & Gonstead

There are many chiropractors in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the styles of treatment you may receive from them could vary widely based on their specific training and expertise. This article will take a look at two types of chiropractic techniques that you will encounter in the Tulsa area.

NUCCA Chiropractor in Tulsa Oklahoma

Some Tulsa chiropractors belong to the NUCCA which stands for National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association. This association promotes a gentle non-invasive procedure which can help to restore your body's balance with health. The focus of NUCCA is the relationship of the neck (also referred to as the upper cervical spine) and its relationship with the central nervous and the brain stem. This relationship affects many aspects of the human body, including each of the five senses.

Practicing NUCCA Chiropractors:

Hunt Spinal Care -

The Tulsa Chiropractor

10020-A, South Mingo Rd.
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133

Brooks Spinal Care

1722 South Carson Ave. Suite 3100
Tulsa, OK 74119

Tulsa Gonstead Chiropractor

Developed by Clarence S. Gonstead, this technique is reputed to be a very detailed and specific procedure that includes X-rays, using instruments, feeling the spine while it is still or static, as well as when it is in motion to find problem areas. These techniques are followed up by a visual inspection to look for any other problems before giving and adjustment.

The Gonstead adjustment technique isn't limited to the spine, but also includes tracking down problems in the extremities and adjusting them too. Here is a quote from Dr. Gonstead.

"Find the subluxation, accept it where you find it, correct it and leave it alone." - C.S. Gonstead

Practicing Gonstead Chiropractor:

Absolute Chiropractic
3319 E. 46th St.
Tulsa, OK 74135

There are many chiropractors in Tulsa to choose from. We have looked at two different techniques that you will find chiropractors in Tulsa practicing. There are other techniques in chiropractic, maybe we will look at some of them in another article.

Exercises for Sciatica: The Muscles Involved With Back Pain

In a majority of cases the main reason behind sciatic nerve pain is an injury, strain or inflammation of the muscle tissue that protects the spine. These muscles are a rather large, complex group that, when healthy, interact to guide the spine and us upright. They also play a role in allowing the torso to twist and bend. Exercises for sciatica are, therefore, targeted on this group of muscles.

These primary back muscles that play an important role would be the extensors, flexors and obliques. Let's have a look at each group separately.

Extensors

Extensors are attached to the back of the spine, technically the posterior. These muscles let us stand also to lift objects up. The extensors are paired in the spine and help with supporting the spine and work with the gluteal muscles buttocks.

Flexors

Flexor muscles affix to the front or the anterior of the spine. Sometimes called hip flexors, these paired muscles permit bending forward, arching your back and walking or running.

Oblique

The obliques, another pair of muscles attach to the ribs and iliac crest running along the side of your torso. These muscles aid in rotation of the torso as well as in correct erect posture also.

Exercise Therapy

For most people, athletes included, the extensors, hip flexors and obliques would be the most neglected muscles in the body. This ensures they are also subject to strain or stress much more than other larger muscle tissues such as the glutes or thigh muscles. Yet it is precisely these muscles that, most of the time, are the underlying reason for sciatic nerve pain.

Effective exercise therapy, whether under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist or licensed exercise therapist, focuses on these muscles. Exercises to strengthen and stretch this grouping will most likely clean up the pain within a few short weeks. Continuing the workouts after the pain goes away completely will, most likely, prevent any recurrence of the discomfort. In many cases, strengthening and stretching these three muscle groups is going to be enough to even rule out any invasive surgery to relieve the pain.

Aside from the fact that these muscles are neglected generally in most workout programs, when sciatica is a result of that neglect, doing the exercises essential to strengthen and stretch them is very painful. It is very important to push ahead during the very first five to seven days as, typically, the pain will diminish because the muscles get accustomed to being worked again. If it doesn't diminish it could be the manifestation of a far more serious issue so make sure you note how you feel within the first three to four hours after working out.

One last point, don't attempt to create your personal workout program. Be certain to get a proper diagnosis from your doctor or perhaps the specialist to whom you are referred. Only this diagnosis provides you with the information that the exercises for sciatica pain may be the first, and perhaps the only, approach needed to ease your discomfort once and for all.

Back Pain Is More Prevalent Among Tall People

Back pain is a common phenomenon in the general population, but it is more common among tall people. A study of 17-year-old Israeli military recruits from 1998 to 2009, published in Health & Science Today, found that males over 6 feet tall were 44% more likely to experience lower back pain, whereas females above 5 feet 7 inches were 22% more likely to experience back pain than shorter females.

There are some things you can't change, and your height is one of them. Being tall does not mean that you are doomed to back pain, however. We must first identify the mechanisms of pain, then proceed to find possible solutions.

Body Structure

The way in which height can cause back pain is two-pronged. The first prong of height-related back pain involves the body structure itself. Tall people are especially susceptible to disc degeneration, and there are a number of possible reasons for this.

Taller people likely have taller spinal discs than an average-sized person. A study by Natarajan et al published in the September 1999 issue of Spine confirmed that tall disc height is associated with greater rate of failure. When a disc with average area and extra height is loaded, it experiences extra stress. If a tall disc bulges, its bulge will be bigger than a disc of average height; this leads to increased risk of nerve impingement in the form of sciatica.

Another possible cause of back pain in tall people is the distance between the arm hinge and the lower back. The arm acts as a lever on the body. The closer the hinge (shoulder/armpit) is to your center of gravity, the less strain will be placed on your spinal discs when lifting objects. In tall people, who have a greater distance between the hinge and the center of gravity, more strain is placed on the spine, particularly on the lower back.

If you are tall, it is important to reinforce your spinal discs with strong muscles. A solid core will help to take pressure off your discs. It would be wise to invest in a lumbar cushion to give added support to your spine while sitting. It is also important to avoid lifting very heavy objects, and to practice proper body mechanics when lifting (for example, lifting with a straight back).

Postural Dysfunction and Strains

When you're a tall person in a small world, you find yourself bending and reaching frequently. From doorways to chairs, most things are not designed for you. Ergonomics and proper biomechanics are the keys to avoiding repetitive strain injuries.

For a tall person, an ergonomic chair is a necessity, not a luxury. The seat and arm rest heights of an ergonomic chair are adjustable. Some have built-in lumbar cushions; make sure these are adjustable as well. Whatever your job, your work station should be tailored to your height. You may need a taller desk or work surface to avoid constant bending.

To limit the deleterious effects of constant bending and reaching, you must train your body to move with maximum efficiency and without dysfunction. When bending to reach an object, bend at the hips rather than at the lower back. This maintains your natural lumbar curve and takes pressure off spinal discs. When ducking beneath a low doorway, bend your knees or hips and keep your back and neck straight rather than tilting your neck sideways. These and other simple maneuvers could prevent height-related muscle strain, joint dysfunction and disc degeneration.

If you require a more structured approach to correct body mechanics, consider studying the Alexander Technique. This program focuses on efficient movement that places body structures under the least amount of stress possible. The Alexander Technique can be pursued at home or with a trained instructor. See http://www.alexandertechnique.com/ for more information.

While you can't change your height, you have the power to limit its effects on the health of your back. The way you move and the spaces you work in can be altered to prevent or resolve back pain.

Treatment For Spinal Problems - Artificial Discs

It wasn't too long ago that the only treatment for herniated cervical discs was Spinal Fusion Surgery. This surgery is a method that uses bone grafts, screws and metal plates to attach or fuse two or more vertebrae in the cervical, or neck, area of the spine. While spinal fusion surgery has helped many people overcome severe back pain, it results in a limited range of motion and movement.

Modern spinal disc technology has provided an alternative to spinal fusion surgery. Cervical herniated discs can now be replaced by artificial discs in a process known as Artificial Disc Replacement, or ADR. The outcome of this surgery will not inhibit range of movement. The patient should regain normal flexibility throughout the cervical region of the spine.

Artificial disc replacement surgery is done by making an incision in the front of the neck and consists of removing the herniated or damaged disc and replacing it with an artificial one, made of either titanium or stainless steel. The new disc will allow for fully normal function and movement in the neck and cervical region of the back.

The Food and Drug Administration have only approved ADR surgery since 2007, but many spinal surgeons will highly recommend this procedure over spinal fusion surgery. Artificial disc replacement is a serious surgical procedure that will take one to two hours to complete. The patient will need to stay in the hospital for post-operative care for at least four days afterwards.

In most cases, a spinal surgeon will recommend ADR for patients who have failed to find relief with other non-surgical methods of back pain treatment. Other factors are also considered, such as if the patient has an allergy to titanium or stainless steel. As with any serious surgical procedure, artificial disc replacement involves a degree of risk, but the lasting relief and alleviation of pain may outweigh the initial risk.

Recipients of artificial disc replacement surgery will need years of follow up care, which will include X-rays to see if the discs are maintaining their integrity. The general consensus is that these discs can last at least 10 to 15 years, the same as other surgical replacements like hip and knee. Physical therapy will also need to be done in the weeks following ADR surgery.

Patients will not need to wear a back brace after ADR surgery, as they would if they had spinal fusion surgery. Artificial disc replacement is more costly than spinal fusion surgery, but patients who undergo ADR will be able to recover and return to work more quickly than those who have had fusion of the cervical discs.

Artificial disc replacement has quickly become the best option for treating severe cervical spine problems. Many people around the world have undergone this procedure and have returned to a pain-free, active and productive life.

Ortho-Bionomy - Provides Natural Relief For Your Acute and Chronic Back Pain

Ortho-Bionomy can quickly relieve your back pain. Practitioners of this work engage our natural ability to heal by paying close attention to the client's muscles, bones and joints. With this information they place the body into specific, often comfortable, healing positions. Each position helps reset the sensors in the muscles and joints known collectively as proprioceptors. Creating the right twist and pressure in the muscles can reset these sensors very quickly. This supports a fast and effective reduction in back pain. Over a small number of session most clients report a decreased level of pain.

Ortho-Bionomy Therapy is very effective at treating the key muscle in back pain, the psoas muscle. The hyper-contraction of that muscle (and other muscles that work with it) causes most back pain. The psoas (pronounced "so - az") primarily flexes the hip and the spinal column. At about 16 inches long on the average, it is one of the largest and thickest muscles of the body.

This powerful muscle runs down the lower mid spine beginning at the 12th thoracic vertebrae connecting to all the vertebral bodies, discs and transverse processes of all the lumbar vertebrae down across the pelvis to attach on the inside of the top of the leg.

The psoas is also a key muscle in flight, fight or freeze danger responses. When tightened the psoas can exert a great force on the spine which causes other muscles to tighten to protect the back. This leads to a cascade of painful contractions. Some of the conditions involving the psoas may also include: sacroiliac pain, sciatica, disc problems, spondylolysis, scoliosis and hip degeneration.

Clients may get significant improvement in 1-3 sessions depending on individual factors. Releasing the psoas allows the other muscles, bones and joints in the back and hips to begin to return to their normal arrangements; Pain and tightness begins to move into relaxation and comfort. To release the psoas an Ortho-Bionomy Practitioner usually move the legs and hips into the most comfortable position possible. The psoas can than change its tension levels and learn to operate in better balance over time.

More serious psoas injuries can take longer, particularly if very painful techniques have been used previously. Painful methods can traumatize the psoas. Practitioners usually suggests low back exercises and stretches that are designed to keep the psoas balanced. Clients who do these exercises/stretches tend to get better faster and stay pain free over time.

Don't live near a practitioner? Learn about Psoas Self Care. It contains easy and effective psoas stretches and exercises that reduce back pain. You can also find out more about my practice here.

How to Tell If You Have a Herniated Disc

You wanted to move the television in your living room to the master bedroom upstairs in order to make space for the larger widescreen coming tomorrow. The TV is pretty big, but nothing you can't handle. So, you wrap your arms around it and lift. Going up the stairs, you sense a sharp pain in your back.

That quick shot up your spine is the last thing you wanted to feel. Back injuries can be an extraordinarily painful experience, and sometimes require major surgery. However, at times it is difficult to distinguish between a serious injury like a ruptured or herniated disc and a strain or pulled muscle in your back. Over time, and with a trip to the doctor, you will know. However, there are a few immediate signs that let you know you are dealing with something more than a short-term injury.

• A combination of back and leg pain.This may include numbness, tingling and weakness along the compressed nerve. The back pain will typically shift to one of your legs after a few days. The burning sensation, or electric shock as it is sometimes called, will follow the nerve from the lower back and down the back of the thigh and into the calf or foot. This pain is called sciatica, for the sciatic nerve that runs through this area.


• Abnormal sensations.Along the pinched nerve, you may experience numbness or a "pins and needles" feeling, or just a pain you don't typically feel. Any abnormalities along the nerve are an indicator of a disc injury.


• Atrophy.This term is used when muscles become smaller because of lack of use. If your muscles feel weak, it may be that the normal signals from the brain to the spinal cord and thus to your muscles are not being processed through your nerves.


• Bladder and bowel functions. Only in the most severe and rare situations will your bladder and bowel functions be affected. The nerves that pass through this area of the lower back are well protected; however, if this does occur, immediate treatment, which may include surgery, is necessary.

You should proceed with caution when dealing with back pain, as it can lead to serious damage. Remembering these signs will help you to better distinguish between severe soreness and a herniated disc. If you are in doubt, it is always best to check with an orthopedist.

Is There a Way to Treat Low Back Pain and Bowel Problems Together?

If suffering the agony and debilitating effects of back problems is not enough, some people have painful bowel problems on top of this. You may be thinking that this is just adding insult to injury, why me? One source of discomfort is bad enough. Don't worry, this article will show you that quite often the two are linked and curing one can cure the other.

One of the most chronic pains that people face today is lower back pain. This pain can be caused by a number of problems, including sports injuries, poor posture, degenerative or herniated discs, work injuries, or simple overuse in carrying large loads of heavy items, for example. Although common, it is also one of the most debilitating pains, especially when relief cannot be easily found. Low back pain and bowel problems have even been linked, making curing the low back pain even more of a priority for someone who suffers from it.

There are a few ways to try to alleviate the lower back problems. First, try sleeping on your left side with a pillow between your knees. A new mattress may also help. Wear flat shoes, and pay attention to proper posture during the day. Lifting with your legs instead of your back is also important. Heating pads and over the counter painkillers can also help. Beyond these home remedies, sometimes there is an underlying physical cause of the pain that needs to be addressed. Chiropractic care, physical therapy, and massage therapy are popular options to try to remedy these underlying problems.

Bowel problems are also quite common. Many people suffer from a condition known as IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome. This non-specific name conveys much of what is known about the causes of IBS, which is not much. This condition causes bowel and abdominal pain which is non specific and which often cannot be remedied, leading some to think it is imagined or psychosomatic. One link that is interesting to consider is the link between Low back pain and bowel problems. Some researchers and medical practitioners hypothesize that nerve damage in the lower back, which is often responsible for lower back pain, can also affect the bowels and abdomen by causing muscular pain and by disrupting the nerve flow to the digestive tract and internal organs.

If there is such a link between Low back pain and bowel problems, it would stand to reason that fixing the cause of the lower back pain would also fix the bowel problems. Both of these remedies would be most welcome to those who suffer from both, or from either. Stress reduction therapy, along with the previously mentioned choices of chiropractic or physical therapy, can have a big impact on both problems for those who suffer in this way.

Discuss the facts in this article with your doctor you may be able to kill two birds with one stone and your path to perfect health may be easier than you think.

Better Posture for a Better Life Through Chiropractic Care

Just what is posture, as it refers to the body? "A position of the body or of body parts: a sitting posture. An attitude; a pose: assumed a posture of angry defiance. A characteristic way of bearing one's body; carriage: stood with good posture. A frame of mind affecting one's thoughts or behavior; an overall attitude."* Simply put, it is a position and an attitude. You can tell a lot about a person through their posture. You can see if someone is in pain, if they are confident, in a bad mood and some people are professional posture readers (body language). Posture tells us many things and it is constantly changing. Many of us could not get into a "good" posture if we tried, due to all the work we have put into "bad" posture. At some point in our lives, most of us have probably been told to "stop slouching!" Turns out, that was better advice than imagined.

Studies now show that there are correlations between posture and life expectancy. One study over 20 years shows that loss of height is related to earlier death. This refers to disk height and increased upper thoracic spine humping (kyphosis). Those losing over 3 cm increased risk 64% over those with 1 cm loss. ^ This is mainly related to increased cardiovascular compromise and lack of oxygen due to stooped posture. The farther you forward flex (slump) your spine forward, it compresses the heart and decreases the distance the rib cage and diaphragm are able to expand, allowing less oxygen in. This affects all tissues and organs in the body. Excessive kyphosis of the thoracic spine is often related to osteoporosis, but it increasingly common in the younger population due to the obsession with computers, texting, gaming and sitting long hours.

Another four year study shows that increased forward head posture also reduces life expectancy for the same reasons.** Did you know that every inch you push your head forward, increases the weight of it on your spine by 10lbs? This also affects balance. Your head usually weighs between 8-10 lbs. and it sits on your spine (kind of like a melon on a stick). It is held onto your spine by many muscles big and small. Increasing the weight of your head is a lot to ask such a delicate system and so your body does many things to compensate which results in a global problem.

No doubt you have also heard the saying, "Keep making that face and it will stay that way!" This too is true in that muscles and bones adapt and conform to the forces put on them in order to allow as normal a possible bodily function. There for, sitting long hours at a desk slumped forward, typing (or whatever you do), results in muscle shortening in the upper and lower body into a flexed position. This in turn pulls on the bones creating kyphosis, headaches, back pain, numbness/tingling, and many more problems.

What can you do to help fight postural pain and disease? Strengthening exercises for postural muscles, increasing your core stability and getting regular spinal adjustments to maintain alignment are proven to aid these conditions. Finally, the body loves motion. Get 30 min of walking/running/biking daily and get up every hour and perform extension exercises for your upper and lower body. It will thank you later!

* American Heritage Dictionary
^University of London, Archives of Internal Medicine
**Journal of American Geriatircs Society 10/2004

The Basic Reason Ballet Can Be So Beneficial

As an exercise type ballet is almost completely unique for the lack of any momentum building. This lack of momentum is the reason that ballet is both very challenging to do and does not "feel" like any other type of exercise and also why it can be a powerful tool for improving the condition of the spine and general musculature of the overall body.

As ballet developed the language of movement needed to match physical movement with beautiful, soaring classical symphonic music it had to create a series of body positions to which the dancer returns in between practically all steps, leaps or turns being done. Along with these body positions - which all emphasize the long line and spiral form of the body - the technique of maintaining specific leg and arm alignments relative to the body core and each other ensure that ballet dancers have that "floating" or "effortless" look about them once properly trained and yet are doing things that any athlete would find extremely challenging. Ballet is not about the most height or speed or number of spins, it is about making anything being done by the dancer look effortless no matter how high or fast or how many spins are done.

The overall result of this language of movement along with the technique of exactly placing the legs and arms enables ballet dancers to "come out of no where" when preparing to leap or turn or change direction and this is why ballet needs almost no momentum to be done correctly. This lack of momentum combined with the constant struggle against gravity to keep the spine as tall and long as it can be, the legs stretched out and the arms extended through the shoulders, stimulates a large array of skeletal muscles in ways no other exercise form can.

This is also why I have seen personally ballet training enable several scoliosis patients to gain a much improved spine and skeletal muscle conditioning which fought back against the scoliosis and avoided them having to have rod implant surgery and even enabled them to eventually ditch the body brace.

Now to be clear, ballet is not a guaranteed or certifiable treatment. For one thing, it must be taught correctly. As with any physical therapy, if it is done or presented wrong it is completely useless. However, when the technique is taught correctly and done over a mid-term time frame of 2 to 5 years, time and time again striking improvements to students have occurred and not just with scoliosis but also with weak knees, excessively tight muscles of the feet or legs, and even headaches if those headaches were being triggered by poor spinal conditioning. A chiropractic adjustment is what fixes an out-of-alignment spine, but to condition the muscles to do a much better job of holding the alignement, ballet is simply a wonderful exercise to do.

How To Get Rid Of Back Aches

The usual cause is muscle strain brought on by heavy or improper lifting; unaccustomed twisting, bending, or stretching; standing motionless for long periods; overuse of back muscles, or injury to the muscles, ligaments, and discs that support the spine. Or it could be a combination of all or any of these.

What brings on the pain is the pressure put on nerve roots in the spinal canal. More than 50 nerve roots radiate down the spinal column, each running through a hole called a foramen, to limbs and organs. Somewhere along the line, especially when there is some kind of problem with a vertebra, muscle, ligament, or disc, a nerve gets pinched or irritated, tensing muscles and creating pain.

Such nerve root irritation can be the outcome of:

* Some body motion that has created a sudden heavy strain or has increased pressure to the lower back, thereby herniating a disc.

* Joint degeneration, osteoarthritis, which typically develops with age. Spinal stenosis is another age-related condition in which the spinal canal narrows, and the elderly are also more prone to compression fractures of the spine.

* Ankylosing spondylitis, a form of arthritis that most often affects the spine, frequently appears before old age sets in, and can have dire consequences.

* Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis; these, besides being tongue twisters, are defects that put vertebrae into misalignment when jostled.

* Fractured vertebrae after a blow to the spine.

* Spinal deformities, such as severe scoliosis, kyphosis, or spina bifida.

* Bacterial infection that enters the spine during surgery or injections, or are carried to the spine through the bloodstream from an infection somewhere else in the body.

* Spinal tumors.

* Paget's disease, causing abnormal bone growth in the spine.

* Scheuermann's disease, which deforms vertebrae.

* Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis.

* Degenerative discs.

* Spinal disc herniation (slipped disc).

* Leg length difference.

* Restricted hip motion.

* Misaligned pelvis.

* Osteomalacia.

* Ochronosis.

* Chondrocalcinosis.

* Poor posture.

* Tension myositis syndrome.

This Ain't No Party, This Ain't No Disco, This Ain't No Foolin' Around

The cause could also be discogenic. Between every vertebra there is a soft, shock-absorbing pad shaped like a hockey puck, gelatinous on the inside and fibrous on the outside. It protects the spinal cord and separates each of the vertebrae. When damaged or worn out, the discs can bulge and press on a nerve root, causing irritation. If it bulges enough, it ruptures (herniates) and puts even greater pressure on the nerve root.

Whatever the cause of pain, the pain itself tends to compound the problem. Muscle strain prompts a person to take on a different gait to compensate for pain coming from the injured area. This, in turn, puts strain on other muscles that have not been used in that way in the past. Those muscles become painful, and lower back pain gets worse. Over time, muscle strain may create an overall imbalance in the spinal structure, leading to chronic back pain. Also, people who are depressed, under stress, or unhappy in their work or with their home life are more likely to have chronic back pain. This is psychogenic pain which must be treated through psychotherapy, psychoactive drugs, or a combination of the two.

Pain itself creates stress that exacerbates the condition. Physical stress affects body chemistry in such a way that it can create more pain in the lower back. Emotional stress does the same thing, sometimes to the point that unhappy thoughts are the primary cause of the back pain. Sometimes pain is accompanied by numbness, tingling, or weakness, all neurologic symptoms. If the neurologic symptoms include bowel or bladder dysfunction or groin or leg weakness or numbness, get immediate medical attention.

Take 2 Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories And Call Me in the Morning

Further complicating matters is that lower back pain may not come from the spine. It may be pain that is referred to the spine from a problem elsewhere in the body. This could be:

* Pelvic inflammatory disease.

* Aortic aneurysm.

* Peptic ulcers.

* Gallbladder disease.

* Pancreatitis.

* Urinary disorders (e.g., kidney stones or urinary tract infections).

* Prostate disease.

In treating lower back pain, unless you are in extreme agony, you will probably start with the least invasive procedure and work your way toward the most invasive. The starting point is to take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen or Aleve to reduce swelling. Your doctor might also prescribe a pain-killer. Apply ice wrapped in a towel at frequent intervals to the site of the pain for two days, then apply heat indirectly to your skin.

If the pain does not resolve within a few days of this treatment with bed rest, the doctor will probably order tests while putting you in the hands of a physical therapist and ordering that you do some mild workouts (walking, bicycling, or pool aerobics) and trunk stabilizing exercises. He may have you wear a back brace.

Typical tests are x-ray, CAT scan, and MRI. You may then be referred to a spine specialist - a neurologist or orthopedic surgeon. He or she may order additional tests: discography, myelogram, or bone scan. Discography uses a fluoroscope to look at one or more discs which have been injected with a contrast dye. A myelogram does the same, but injecting and looking at the space around your spinal cord. In a bone scan, a specialist injects into a vein a trace amount of radioactive material which travels to and collects in bones. A scanner can then detect spinal problems.

Factectomy, Foraminotomy, Laminotomy, Spinal Laminectomy - Let's Call the Whole Thing Off

Should the tests reveal a problem requiring surgery, you will be among the 5% of people with back pain who require the most invasive procedure. Your surgeon will encourage you to try several months of non-surgical treatment first; back surgery does not have a fantastic record for long-term relief of back pain. Eventually, the same or similar problems will show up in other parts of the spine, and you may have to undergo additional surgeries. Get a second opinion.

The surgical procedure may be a factectomy, foraminotomy, laminotomy, or spinal laminectomy, all of which are attempts to relieve pressure on nerve roots or the spinal cord. A discectomy removes those portions of a disc that are protruding. Sometimes the surgeon will perform spinal fusion, fastening two or more vertebrae together to restrict movement in an area that is damaged, deformed, or that simply hurts with movement. A problem with the latter procedure is that it may be difficult to accurately identify the source of a patient's pain. Should the pain come from mental stress, for example, a spinal fusion is extreme, inappropriate, and does not stop the pain.

Most of these procedures can be performed with micro-surgery. With the surgeon using a microscope, very small incisions can be made. This means there will be less pain at the site during recuperation, and you will be able to leave the hospital sooner and return to your regular life more rapidly.

Another recently-developed alternative for quelling chronic lower back pain is the surgical insertion into the spine of an electro stimulation device that delivers small, steady charges of electricity that can be effective in eliminating pain.

Medical Application Solutions For Micro-Precise Surgery Assistance

Medical technology and surgical procedures are following a trend towards minimally invasive surgeries that reduce both patient risk and recovery time. Medical application solutions are being geared towards this trend, with technology and devices shrinking in size while still providing precision and power.

One such example of emerging medical technology is micro-precise surgery assistants. These extremely small units are capable of performing procedures and assisting surgeons, while their small size helps to reduce the need for open surgeries and still perform high precision operations with less chance for error. Minimally invasive procedures reduce scarring, trauma, and the chance for infection and bleeding.

Spinal Surgery Assistant

This particular device is used in spinal fusion and spinal interventions procedures. Known as the SpineAssist platform, it is fixed directly to a platform that rests on the patient's spine and is capable of performing procedures or guiding a surgeon in their operation. The use of CT scans for positioning and calibration allows a remote procedure to be performed without an open surgery to establish a site line on the spine. This ultimately reduces the severity of spinal procedures and helps to increase the accuracy of incisions and implantations.

This robotic assistant enables high precisions procedures with a smaller number of fine incisions. The overall improvement in accuracy also reduces the potential for misplacement of spinal implants. Also, the robot only requires a few CT scans, reducing the overall radiation exposure to a patient for the procedure.

The Technology That Makes It Possible

The entire operating unit is a cylinder that measures only 2 inches in diameter and 3 inches in height, which is roughly the same size as a soda can. The unit only weighs half a pound and is able to provide accuracy up to 1.5 millimeters or 60 thousandths of an inch. This device is able to perform its duties in such a small package due to brushless DC micro-motors that provide high torque motion in an extremely compact model. The high precision is vital for spinal operations, where the proximity of major nerves means any slip can carry catastrophic consequences.

The system consists of a set of six DC micro-motors and seven sensors, one for each actuator and one to track the performance of the others, that coordinate all the movements of a robotic arm and ensure the proper location of any incisions or implants. An imaging software unit conveys information to a monitor, allowing for remote observation and control of the entire procedure. Using prior CT scans as a reference, the entire surgery can be planned out and then performed with high precision.

This type of miniaturized technology is leading the way in creating more effective surgical procedures. With the use of DC gearmotors and DC micro-motors, these medical devices do not have to sacrifice power in order to achieve high precision results with compact instruments. As healthcare continues to become more advanced, technology and robotics are opening new doors to advanced care options.

What You Should Know If You Have Neck or Back Pain

Back and neck pain are two of the most common health complaints affecting people around the world. Recent investigations into back and neck pain let us know the following facts.

1. People usually begin to feel pain in their 20's, but sadly, up to 50% of children also complain of neck or back pain.

2. Up to 30% of people have back or neck pain at any given moment.

3. Up to 80% of all people develop neck or back pain in their lifetime.

4. Most untreated neck and back problems will get worse, often leading to spinal arthritis. "In Australia, arthritis is the most common cause of profound and severe handicap, with many sufferers requiring help with their activities of daily life"- Arthritis Foundation of Australia.

5. The treatment of neck and back pain is one of the greatest and most inefficient expenditure of health care resources today.

Neck and back pain is such a huge problem that governments from all around the world, in an attempt to help solve this problem, have sponsored leading researchers to find the fastest and most effective treatments for back and neck pain.

The major investigations have been done by the USA, UK and Canadian governments, their aim was to find out the most common causes of neck and back pain and to identify what the best treatment for those problems are. Here is what was found.

1. That there are 3 general types of spinal problems that cause back and neck pain.

(i) Mechanical problems.

(ii) Nerve root pain.

(iii) Serious pathology.

(i) Mechanical: these are problems with the joints, muscles, discs and ligaments of the spine. Here are some of the common types of mechanical problems muscle strains, ligament sprains, increased muscle tension, spinal joint misalignment, abnormal spinal curvatures, disc problems (disc bulges, disc herniation, or "wearing out"), arthritis (spinal degeneration).

Some common signs and symptoms of mechanical problems are aching pains, sharp pains, increased muscle tension and tightness, poor posture, pain usually gets worse with activity, pain is somewhat relieved with rest, the pain can restrict your normal movements.

Mechanical problems have been reported to be the cause of up to 90% of neck and back pain. Most neck and back pain sufferers have a mechanical cause to their pain, and usually they'll have more than on type of problem e.g. someone with back pain may have muscle tension, spinal misalignments and some arthritis.

In fact, the longer someone has an uncorrected problem the more additional problems they will develop e.g. someone develops a spinal misalignment, which causes an increase in muscle tension and some abnormal spinal curvatures, then if these problems are left uncorrected, over time, they can cause some wearing out (thinning) of discs and lead to the early development of spinal arthritis.

(ii) Nerve root pain: This is usually due to leaving mechanical problems uncorrected... The pain felt with these problems is characteristically a very sharp, intense "shooting" pain into the arms or legs (e.g. Sciatica), it is caused by pressure on or irritation of, the spinal nerves. The pressure on the nerves is usually from bulging discs or spinal arthritis (both usually due to uncorrected mechanical problems). Nerve root pain causes about 10% of neck and back pain.

(iii) Serious pathology: This includes fractures, infections, tumors and others. These causes are, fortunately, quite rare causing less than 1% of back and neck pain.

So, the majority of back and neck pain is caused by mechanical problems and the complications of uncorrected mechanical problems (nerve root pain).

These mechanical spinal problems are usually caused by bad postures, repetitive strain injuries, or by trauma. Risk factors for developing mechanical spinal problems are bad posture, bad lifting habits, stressful living and working conditions, a loss of spinal strength and flexibility, a loss of general physical fitness.

USA, UK and Canada government research found the best treatment for most neck and back pain was Chiropractic care. Chiropractic was often found to be the most effective, the safest, the most cost effective, the most successful in the long term and had some of the highest patient satisfaction levels.

The results from scientific studies, from all around the world, done to find the best treatments for neck and back pain:

The "Magna Report," 1993, this study was done by the government of Ontario, Canada in an attempt to find the most effective for low back pain sufferers, here's what they found.

(i) Chiropractic care was shown to be the most effective treatment for low back pain.

(ii) Chiropractic care was the safest treatment for low back pain.

(iii) That spinal manipulation was best (and most safely) performed by Chiropractors.

(iv) That patients were "very satisfied" with Chiropractic care.

(v) Recommendations for Chiropractic to be fully integrated into the hospital system.

The British Medical Research trial, 1990 -1995, this research examined the effectiveness of Chiropractic care compared to the effectiveness of a combination of medical and physiotherapy treatment. This research showed that Chiropractic care produced excellent short and long term results for patients with both acute and chronic pain; and patients with moderate and severe pain. This research showed the superior effectiveness and cost effectiveness of Chiropractic care. The results of this research were endorsed by the British Medical Association.

The "Agency for Health Care Policy and Research," 1994, a 23 member multidisciplinary (all types of health care professionals) expert panel set up and run by the US government recommended spinal manipulation as an appropriate first line approach to the treatment of most people with acute low back pain.

The "Clinical Standards Advisory Group," 1994, a 10 member multidisciplinary expert panel set up and run by the UK government found as above that Chiropractic treatment is an appropriate first line approach to the treatment of back pain.

The "Royal college of General Practitioners," 1996, recommended spinal manipulation as an appropriate first line approach to the treatment of back pain.

Dr William H Kirkaldy - Willis, Orthopaedic surgeon, Professor Orthopaedic surgery, Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon, Canada, reported after his 40 years of distinguished practice and research, that many spinal pain sufferers are greatly benefited from Chiropractic treatment, in fact, in one study he preformed approximately "90% of patients returned to full function with no restrictions for work and other activities," after Chiropractic treatment.

All across the world, experts are recommending Chiropractic care for people with neck and back pain. If want to find out if Chiropractic can help your neck or back pain contact your local Chiropractor.

Home Exercises for People With Spinal Cord Injuries

There are a few exercises you can do at home that will keep you tone. They target arms(biceps/triceps), shoulders, lats, legs(quads) and abs. Theses exercises can be done while sitting in your wheelchair or lying in bed using inexpensive items such as dumbells, exercises bands, and ankle/wrist weights.

BICEPS.
The most basic movement for arms is the bicep curl. There are many variations, but for our population, the seated dumbell curl is what we will do. Depending on your hand function, you can perform this with either dumbells or wrist(ankle) weights that wrap and velcro around your wrists. There are 2 ways to do these, 1st.... with your arm(s) hanging down at your side, palms facing in towards your body, curl your arm up, be sure to keep your upper arm from shoulder to elbow in a fixed position As you bring the weight up,(if possible) rotate your wrist so it ends palm up. This rotation has an affect on the bicep muscle. The 2nd way i like, if your wheelchair has armrests, simply use it as a base of support under your elbow. This will prevent any upper arm/ shoulder movement and really isolate the bicep muscle. 10 reps, 3-5 sets

TRICEPS.
The tricep is the muscle in the back of the arm. This muscle is often affected by Spinal Cord Injury. If you have function of tricep, there are a few ways we can train this muscle from a wheelchair and lying down. A few require should function, one does not. Lets look at ways from a seated position which also require shoulder movement..

1- With a dumbell or wrist wrap weights, raise your arm(s)straight overhead. Bending at the elbow, lower the weight to behind your head, then raise to full extension again. This can be done each arm individually, or both hands holding one dumbell.
2- Lying down flat on your back, raise one arm straight up towards the ceiling, lower the weight to the side of your head. Keep your elbow pointed upwards. It is basically the same as movement #1, but lying down.

The 3rd movement requires NO shoulder involvement. For this exercise you will need an exercise band. Place an exercise band either over the top of a a door or even over the back of your neck, as if u had a rolled up towel over you. With your elbow either at your side or planted on your armrest, press downwards towards the floor. Pause at full extension, then slowly release back to start. 10 reps, 3-5 sets

FOREARMS.
To perform this movement, you need to have some hand function to grip and hold a dumbell, as well as wrist control.

Place your arm(s) on your thighs with your hand extended slightly further than your knees.

With your palms facing up, roll your wrist down, then up. If you have good finger control, you can open your hand on the downside of movement and roll the dumbell so only your fingers are griping. Then roll your hand closed and then your wrist up.

This can also be done with your palms facing down. This will work the topside of the forearm. 10 reps 3-5 sets

SHOULDERS.
SIDE RAISES- This movement will work the shoulder muscle. Again, depending on your hand function, you can use dumbells or wrist (ankle) weights.

Hold the dumbbells with your palms facing in and your arms straight down at your side. This will be your starting position. Raise your arms out to the side, with just a slight bend, to just past shoulder level. Slowly return to starting position. 10 reps 3-5 sets

PRESSES- The seated dumbbell shoulder press is one of the best shoulder exercises for developing all heads of the shoulder.

Hold one dumbbell, or wrist weight, in each hand at shoulder height using a pronated grip. With the elbows pointed downward and to the sides. Press upwards towards the ceiling. Stop just short of full extension, then slowly lower to starting position. 10 reps 3-5 sets

ABDOMINALS...
CRUNCHES- Core strength is extremely important to people with spinal cord injury. Having a good strong core with not only allow us to feel good, it will aid in getting in and out of bed, sitting up, reaching, bending over to pick something off of the floor, dressing, etc. Depending on your level of injury, theses should be done daily. Start your day off with crunches before you even get out of bed.

Lying on your back, bend your knees up to approximately a 45 degree angle. You can place a bolster, exercise ball, chair, or even a pile of pillows under your legs for support.

The movement begins by curling the shoulders towards the pelvis, then back down to flat. Do this movement nice and slow. he hands can be behind or beside the neck or crossed over the chest.

DO NOT pull on your neck, simply place your hands back there.
When performing a crunch the lower back should not leave the floor.
Start with 2 sets of 25 reps..That should give you a good burn.

SEATED SIDE BENDS- This exercise I found to be very beneficial. Being in a wheelchair, we cannot always reach things and need to stretch to get to them. Without core strength, we would fall over. This movement requires you to be in your wheelchair, at a table, and you will need a towel. Depending on your ability, you may need the aid of someone in case you go to far and cannot get back to center.

Place the towel on the table. Pull your chair sideways to the table and place your closest arm on the towel.
Lean as far as you can, as if you were reaching for something across the table, then come back to center.
This can be a tough movement, so find your range to where you wont get stuck.
Spin around and work the other side as well.

This can also be done facing the table. Place both hands on towel, arms extended forward. Lean forwards, then back to sitting up. Find your range and build on it.

BACK...
LATS- The lat (Latissimus Dorsi) is a muscle of the back. Pulldowns are the most basic exercise for this muscle. To perform this exercise, you will need either an over the door pulley, or an exercise band. If a pully is used, some sort of resistance will need to be on the opposite handle. You can wrap ankle weights to the handle.

Start with your arm extended upward, palm forward. Slowly pull downward. Be sure to keep your elbows pointed out to the side. Stop when your arm is just past 90'. Slowly control the movement back up.

The further outside of the shoulder your hand is to start, the more the lat muscle is focused on. When your hand is above the shoulder, you will use more bicep muscle to pull down.

This exercise also incorporates shoulder and bicep muscles. 10 reps 3-5 sets

LOW BACK/HIPS...
BRIDGING- Bridging is great for maintaining strength in the low back. Pelvic bridging is also a great exercise that strengthens the paraspinal muscles, the quadricep muscles at the top of your thighs, the hamstring muscles in the back of the thighs, the abdominals and the gluteal muscles. This is an exercise that not many with an spinal cord injury can do. If you can, it is a great movement. If you have any movement or strength in your hip and low back areas, you should give this a try. Even the slightest movement can be built upon. You will need the aid of someone to sit on your feet and support your knees in place.

Lie flat, knees bent and feet flat on the floor about 6 inches apart.

Push your hips towards the ceiling, hold at the top for a few seconds, then slowly lower back to start.

3 sets 10-15 reps

LEGS...
Quadriceps- This exercise will strengthen the quads. The quadriceps is a large muscle group, stretching from hip to knee, which makes up the front of the thigh. You can perform this movement with nothing, or if you have strength, you can add ankle weights for resistance.

From your sitting position, extended your leg out as straight as you can, hold for 3 seconds, then slowly back to start.

10reps 3-5 sets

Having a Spinal Cord Injury wreaks havoc on our body. Able bodied people can get away with not exercising more so because at least they are moving, walking, bending, etc. We pretty much are stationary and muscle will quickly atrophy with non use. We NEED to exercise whatever functional muscles we have. If you have the hope of recovery when a cure comes along, you need to have as much muscle tone as possible.

Lumbar Decompression - What is It?

Lumbar decompression refers to a group of surgical procedures whose primary goals are to provide pain relief and bone stability in those who have suffered injury or disease involving the lumbar portion of the spine.

The lumbar spine consists of five individual vertebra and begins at the last vertebra that is attached to a rib and ends at the top of the pelvis. Between each vertebra is a structure that serves as a "shock absorber" called an intervertebral disc, or simply a disc. The disc also provides a space between the vertebra where the spinal nerves emerge before branching out into other areas of the body.

Due to its location and the fact that we humans walk upright, the lumbar spine is subjected to considerable stress and strain throughout our lives. In many cases the lumbar spine survives these stresses and strains without problem by repairing itself. However, trauma and disease may cause damage to a vertebra and/or disc that the body is incapable of repairing. In these cases lumbar decompression surgery may be necessary.

In many cases of lumbar spine disease the spinal nerve is compressed between two vertebra. It is this compression that causes the symptoms of spinal disease such as pain or loss of sensation in the legs. Surgical treatment of lumbar spine disease is targeted at relieving this compression and preventing its recurrence.

Traditional lumbar decompression surgery usually involves removal of tall or part of he disc and the insertion of a piece of bone to stabilize the position of the vertebra. Occasionally "hardware" such as screws or metal rods will be necessary to fully stabilize the spine. This is known as lumbar laminectomy and spinal fusion. There are a number of variations of this surgery that can be tailored to the needs of the individual patient.

More recently, lumbar decompression has been accomplished by what are known as minimally invasive surgeries. These procedures seek to relieve pain by directly focusing on the small areas that are responsible for the patients symptoms. A special instrument called an endoscope is used to visualize the area responsible for the patient's symptoms and the necessary surgery, including the insertion of screws or plates, is done "through the 'scope."

Minimally invasive procedures include:

-mini-laminectomy: only the portion of the disc that is directly compressing the nerve is removed via a small incision in the back

-chemical laminectomy: a special chemical compound is injected directly into the disc causing the disc to "shrink" or dissolve

-mini-fusion: similar to the traditional fusion operation but done through an endoscope and using smaller hardware

Some cases of lumbar disease are due to damage to the vertebra itself. The "collapsing" vertebra commonly seen in osteoporosis and the lumbar compression fractures seen in professional truck drivers are particular examples of these conditions. These two conditions are now being treated with a procedure known as vertebroplasty.

In vertebroplasty a special "bone cement" is injected directly into the veretbra itself to prevent further collapse. This is usually done after other corrective procedures such as laminectomy or fusion have been completed. Many patients report a dramatic decrease in pain following vertebroplasty.

Further information on lumbar decompression is available from your personal health care provider.

Exercising After Lumbar Spinal Fusion Surgery

Spinal fusion is a common form of back surgery that entails the fusion of two or more vertebrae to eliminate painful motion caused by degenerated discs or spondylolisthesis. People who are deciding whether to have the procedure or who have had it already often wonder what kind of physical activity they will be capable of after surgery. The following describes both short- and long-term exercise recommendations for people who have had lumbar spinal fusion.

The First Few Months

It can take about half a year for a fusion to set. During this time, it is important to place limitations on physical activity so that the fusion process is not disrupted by jarring motions. You might think bed rest would be the best option to ensure a smooth fusion; however, low-intensity exercise is actually imperative to recovery. It is important to exercise after fusion surgery for a number of reasons:

1. Muscles supporting the spine should be kept strong.
2. The back can become stiff after surgery and stretching exercises will help maintain flexibility.
3. Movement also helps prevent the formation of adhesions or scar tissue that can damage tissues in the back.
4. Maintaining cardiovascular fitness will help deliver fresh blood and oxygen to the healing area, giving it more material to build new bone with.
5. Maintaining a healthy weight will prevent extra stress on the back.

The exact amount of activity you're allowed will depend on what type of fusion you had, the location of fusion, the number of levels fused and your rate of healing. Make sure to discuss post-fusion exercise with your doctor or surgeon. If possible, arrange to see a physical therapist within a few days after surgery to get professional exercise advice. Generally, the following activity plan is followed after a fusion surgery.

The first week of recovery entails walking and gentle stretching of the thighs and back. Light core stabilization exercises that involve moving the arms and legs rather than the trunk may be introduced within the first few weeks. These exercises avoid any stressful movements of the spine such as twisting. As pain decreases, you'll be able to increase the distance of your walks.

After about 6 weeks, you may be able to add more mobile exercises into your routine. After about 9 weeks, if possible, you'll want to increase your aerobic workout to include brisk walking, swimming or another type of low-impact workout. Within the first half year to a year of surgery, you'll need to avoid jarring activities like jogging or contact sports.

For a comprehensive list and description of post-fusion exercises, see http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/spinal-fusion/rehabilitation-following-lumbar-fusion.

Long-Term

Your surgeon may tell you that you can return to any activity once you're healed if the procedure is successful. However, being physically capable of doing an activity and deciding to do it are two different things.

There is a concern with spinal fusion surgery called adjacent segmental degeneration (ASD). ASD entails the degeneration of joints and spinal discs surrounding the site of a fusion, since the disc and joints in that area are no longer absorbing shock and facilitating motion. This means that any high-impact activity you do will cause added stress on the discs and joints surrounding the fusion. The risk of ASD increases with the number of spinal levels fused.

Activities that jar the spine like running and outdoor cycling, or those that combine twisting and force like tennis or golf are, therefore, not ideal activities after having a fusion surgery. They are possible, but you must make a choice about what you're willing to risk. When deciding whether or not to have spinal surgery, those who live athletic lives may wish to look into artificial disc replacement or lumbar dynamic stabilization surgery as an alternative to fusion due to ASD concerns.

If you've had a fusion, one of the best ways to stay active is in the pool. Water takes stress off joints and discs while providing the resistance your body needs to stay fit. Swimming or water aerobics are ideal for people with back problems. Another option is an exercise machine, such as a stationary bike or elliptical, the design of which prevents jarring of the spine.

Exercise after spinal fusion surgery is not only possible but necessary. Keep in mind that you will be able to lead an active life after your recovery, but that your activities may not be the same as they were before surgery.

Ayurvedic Herbs For Cervical Spondylosis

Tell me, do you often have pain in your neck area? Is this pain radiating to your shoulders or to your head? Is it progressive? Well, if you do experience these with a couple of other things, then maybe you should have a check-up on Cervical Sponylitis.

Cervical Spondylitis, also known as cervical osteoarthritis, is a degenerative disorder that affects the cervical spine. It is caused by wearing away of the cartilage and bones of the neck and degeneration of the vertebral disks. As a result of these abnormal changes, pressure is placed on the spinal nerves or on the spinal cord, triggering pain and other unwanted sensations to the neck, arms, and even hands.

Who are at risk of having cervical osteoarthritis? This disorder usually occurs to both men and women who are over 40. Risk factors include:

• Repeated trauma to the head caused by different occupations.


• Head trauma due to an accident.


• Keeping your neck in one position.


• Having congenital conditions.


• Being a relative of someone who had Spondylitis. Studies show that it has a genetic correlation.

So, what are the symptoms of this disorder?

• Suffering often from neck pain which is accompanied by stiffness.


• The pain felt radiates to your arms, hands, and even in the back area of your head.


• Loss of sensation to the arms and hands, or having that tingling and pinprick sensation.


• Observing that your arms usually feel weak.


• Suffering from vertigo.

What can you do to manage the pain and to slow down the progression of Cervical Spondylitis? You could undergo several treatments such as Physical Therapy, take medications, go through a surgery (if it is really worse), and take alternative medicines to complement other treatments, herbal remedies being one.

The following are the Ayurvedic herbs used to deal with the disorder. Before getting yourself any of these remedies, you must first consult your doctor about it. Why? It is to avoid any negative interactions with your current medications if you have any.

• Guggul or Commiphora mukul. It has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties that will reduce the inflammation on your joints, reducing the pain.


• Nirgundi or Vitex negundo. It is known to be an effective anti-arthritic herb that controls pain and inflammation in the affected joints.


• Shallaki or Boswelia serrata. Similar with the previously mentioned herbs, this will address the pain and inflammation caused by arthritis.


• Ashwagandha or Withania somnifera. It also has anti-inflammatory agents.

So there you have it. Symptoms of Cervical Spondylitis, its risk factors, and the different Ayurvedic herbs that could help you deal with the disorder have been given. Your duty is to make use of these knowledge for your own health.

Scoliosis: The Dangers of Spinal Surgery

Scoliosis is something that can attack a sufferer on two fronts. Firstly, it can cause great pain and discomfort in the sufferer, especially if it affects them from a young age. This can mean also that some sufferers spend a lot of time on medication and even in bed due to the unbearable pain that they can suffer.

In addition to pain and discomfort, there can also be some emotional damage suffered by the patient. Many scoliosis sufferers report that they feel self conscious about the curvature of the spine that the condition brings on, even though it can be minimal in many cases. This self conscious feeling is something that can last a long time, even after the problem has been treated and, eventually, managed.

One of the most startling aspects of scoliosis is the fact that surgery is so poorly understood by many people. When parents are involved heavily in the care of their children, it is often the case that they see surgery as a quick and simple way to treat the problem. However, surgery can be a very invasive and at times quite damaging procedure that can leave patients in a worse state than they were before. Without scaremongering, it is important to realise the facts about surgery for scoliosis.

When scoliosis is first diagnosed by doctors, they are very adept at recommending that patients hang on for a little while before offering any major remedies; however surgery does often come up when the more severe curvatures are diagnosed.

About 30,000 spinal surgery procedures are carried out each year for scoliosis alone, which should give you an idea as regards the frequency of the issue. The process is, on the surface, quite simple, with steel rods being attached to the top and the bottom of the curvature itself via the vertebrae. The vertebrae are thus fused through this measure, taking bone fragments from the hips and sometimes the spine itself. This fusing leads to healing in a straightened position, which is obviously the end result that surgeons and patients are hoping for.

However, things are not quite that simple. For a number of weeks after the surgery has taken place, many patients have to wear a brace. This is due to the fact that the surgery does take its toll on the human body, and wearing a brace can help to reduce the pain levels that are felt after the surgery has taken place.

As with any major corrective surgery, there is also the possibility of some kind of relapse taking pace. Whenever the human body has a correction made to a part of it, the body does face having to get used to this correction, Often the 'getting used to it' can take a very long time, and sometimes it can even be the case that the body falls into a position it was in before.

The end result of these complications can be quite nasty, in that a significant number of scoliosis surgery patients do go back to their doctors complaining of further back pain, and there have even been cases of the spine needing further corrections due to the invasive nature of surgery.

Add to this the problems that are present in any kind of surgery, such as infection and other complications. Some patients even have an adverse reaction to the anaesthetic that is used during surgery for example. While these cases are rare, it is easy to see why one must take extra care when considering using surgery for scoliosis problems.

The most common type of surgery that is used in the United States to combat scoliosis is the Harrington Rod surgery method. This is used in around 20,000 surgery cases that arise out of the condition. The cost is actually quite large, with regular Harrington procedures costing around $120,000 to carry out.

While this is the most common form of surgery in the United States, it is important to realise that there are recognised complications that do arise out of the procedure. For example, a major scientific journal recently stated that there are high risks that surgery does not actually correct spinal curvature. The journal also claimed that the long term complications arising from the surgery are 'often misunderstood', leading to patients actually signing up to a situation where irreversible damage is done to their spine.

Another leading journal also found that the surgery can severely impact upon the patient's ability to enjoy their day to day life. This means that everyday mobility is severely limited due to the surgery that has taken place. The European Spine Journal noted this fact quite clearly in recent times, offering the information that patients who undergo surgery often suffer a loss of full mobility in their spine. This means disability.

The problem is quite simple. Patients are not told that surgery for scoliosis problems will affect their lives in this way. While the surgery is quite invasive, patients still believe, on the whole, that they will only suffer a small loss in mobility, and that this is in the long term. This is most certainly not the case.

Patients are also often told, quite misleadingly, that surgery is wholly responsible of the correction of the curvature that they hope for. In reality, spinal surgery for scoliosis is not in any way effective in straightening the spine for the long term, and is definitely not effective in doing so on a permanent basis.

So if you are considering surgery for scoliosis, whether it is for you or for someone that you love, it is definitely worth understanding that surgery is not effective for straightening curvatures, and that it can cause further complications that can effectively damage your life by bringing you a disability.

Tips For Picking The Right Inversion Table

Back pain can be a major nuisance that hampers our routine activities, lifestyles and even keep us from working. One solution to them is the use of inversion therapy. It uses gravity to relax the pressure on your spine and give it the chance to reverse the damage done by years of gravitational compression. What you do is that you use an inversion table to suspend yourself in a partially or fully inverted position. You literally hang by your legs, thereby reducing pressure on your spine and let gravity undo the damage it does combined with poor posture and work habits. You can find inversion tables for sale online, as well as in some shops and warehouses.

If you're in the market for one, here are some things you should know.

• Make sure that you know what kind of table is best for you. There are numerous types of tables for sale so be sure to do your homework about the types of inversion equipment and consult your physician to see which is best for you.

• The backboard needs to be rigid, yet comfortable enough to keep your back straight and well supported because you will be spending some time on it. If it isn't comfortable enough, you might not be able to use it properly, and it might not work for you. You can find various inversion tables for sale with different backboard designs, based on their usage and purpose.

• With the wide range of inversion tables for sale online, you probably have noticed the variations in the arm assists. Arm assists vary based on their purpose, such as short hand grips to help you get on and off the inversion table, or wrap around bars, that help you control the level of inversion as well getting on or off the table. Make sure you pick the right one for you.

• In most cases, you are literally hanging by your legs or feet when you are inverted so having the right ankle restraints is vital. There are three main types of ankle restraints available in inversion tables for sale right now: basic ankle clamps, double foam rollers, and padded locking bars. Each has its own pros and cons and which one is best for you depends on your ankle size, and physical condition.

• Most inversion tables for sale come with add-ons or special features such as heated backboards, easy release handles, motorized-tilt backboards, and Ab Lockout. Make sure you check if the inversion table you are choosing comes with such special features because they add a lot of value to your table.

Whichever tables you choose, make sure you consult your physician before starting inversion therapy, and before going out to buy one of these machines.

Cures For Sciatica - 5 Characteristics Which Every Worthy Sciatic Nerve Pain Cure Must Possess!

Cures for sciatica which are guaranteed to work must possess certain characteristics. These characteristics are what assure you of their efficacy; what guarantees you that, if employed, these cures for sciatica won't fail.

So what are these characteristics? Well, that is the aim of this article. We will be looking at what these characteristics are and what they offer. At the end of this article, you would have discovered what it takes to pick the perfect cures for sciatica. Let's get on with it shall we?

#1. Worthy cures for sciatica must show you proper ways to exercise which are balanced and guaranteed to aid increased blood supply to the sciatic nerve while strengthening your muscles simultaneously. Anything less is unacceptable, period.

Alternatively, it should also possess a method for improving lower back strength...

#2. If a cure cannot give you assurances that it will improve your lower back strength and remove the distortions around it then it is a useless ineffective cure which you have every right to run away from.

There is no point targeting cures for sciatica which have no way of tackling these distortions and you need to know this to choose your perfect cure.

Additionally, it should have techniques guaranteed to relax tensed muscles...

#3. Muscle tension is another very nasty cause of sciatica and must be tackled by any cure out there. A cure must have a way of releasing muscle tension and providing a way to relax the pinched sciatic nerve.

Added to this should be a way to realign your pelvis and spine...

#4. The ability to proffer a method of realigning your pelvis with your spinal column should also be one of the techniques offered by worthy cures for sciatica.

Your piriformis can become tightened by the distortion of your pelvic bones. The piriformis describes the muscle in your buttocks and sits directly on your sciatic nerve. If any cure fails to realign your pelvic distortions, then your sciatica cannot be remedied and any relief you get will be short lived.

It should also have the ability to accurately examine and access the state of your spinal column...

#5. Any cure for sciatica that will eventually be successful must be able to offer a way to assess the state of your spinal column effectively and accurately.

To eliminate your sciatic nerve pain, good cures for sciatica must be able to determine the root cause of your condition by having a way to examine your spinal column and immediate environs.

FACT: Most conventional treatments for sciatica only work as a temporary band aid solution; they all fail to work in the long run!