Weather can be another source of back pain for some. Many people are not aware of the effects that weather has on their bodies. Cold weather, in particular, can aggravate a back problem since the muscles tend to constrict in cold weather. Drafts and dampness can also be detrimental to a bad back. Be sure to keep yourself warm and dry during cold weather. Layering your clothes on these days can be helpful.
Information taken from The Bum Back Book by Michael Reed Gach.
Restrictive clothing and high heels can contribute to many back problems. Any clothing that restricts or inhibits you from moving freely should be avoided. For example, rigid leather belts can contribute to back problems. If you wear one regularly and have a back problem, experiment with wearing a cloth or an elastic belt for a month and see what happens.
And, ladies, I know that high heels make your legs look sexier and we all want that, but try to keep wearing them at a minimum. Wear them for shorter periods of time and on special occasions like weddings, church, the opera, a special dinner date, etc. And make sure that on a daily basis your shoes are low heeled, comfortable, and that they cushion your step. If you must wear high heels for work, at least bring them in a bag and put them on once you get there; and wear comf0rtable shoes on the way to and from and when you get home.
This will minimize the strain on your back from walking on your toes all day.
Information taken from The Bum Back Book by Michael Reed Gach.
Improper Lifting is a major cause of back pain. We all know that we should bend our knees and let the knees and glutes do most of the work, but do we really think about this when we go to pick up something heavy? Usually not, unless we have already strained our back doing this in the past.
I want to encourage you to think about doing this properly BEFORE you have to learn it the hard way. Many problems occur when people bend over from the waist and use only their back muscles to lift an object as they straighten to a standing position. It is important to bend your knees as you reach for the object and to keep your back straight as you return to an upright position. This allows the muscles of your legs to do most of the lifting and avoids straining, twisting, or pulling your back out of alignment.
If you have already had an injury from improper lifting or from anything else, Bowen Therapy and LED Light Therapy are excellent therapies to release the muscle tension and pain and to return your musculature to balance and proper spinal alignment. Bowen Therapy tends to last longer than many approaches to pain relief.
Call Brenda Briscoe to find out more about Bowen Therapy or LED Light Therapy at 214-679-4618. Or call our front desk to schedule your appointment at 972-930-0260. Find out more about Bowen Therapy at bowentherapyindallas.com.
Prolonged, strenuous or unaccustomed exercise can strain the back muscles. This strain can lead to soreness and tightness.
For example, most of us have made a New Year’s resolution at the beginning of January to become more fit. We go back to the gym after a long period of little or no exercise for months, and we overdo it to the point where we are sore for days afterwards. Instead of going all out, we should ramp up the weight and reps gradually so that we don’t suffer so much or don’t get discouraged.
How about those holidays where the guys get outside and play football on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day? They’ve waited all year long to do this ritual with family and friends, but they want to go all out and really play hard once or twice a year. They are going to suffer.
Stretching before and after exercise can help with the soreness, as well as icing the sore areas afterwards. LED Light Therapy and Bowen Therapy are two good therapies to receive after a workout like this. Both will help speed recovery along tremendously.
To make an appointment for either of these therapies, call our front office at 972-930-0260.
Some of this information was taken from The Bum Back Book.
Both Western and Oriental medical systems relate malfunctioning of the internal organs to pain in the back. Both authorities state that this occurs via nerve connections in the spinal cord. Therefore, a chronic problem in an internal organ may trigger an ache or pain in the back.
This information is taken from The Bum Back Book by Michael Reed Gach.
Yet another cause of back pain is Arthritis. The word “arthro” refers to joints and “itis” means inflammation. Arthritic changes can give rise to bone spurs in the spine. These spurs occur especially in the cervical (neck) vertebrae, often causing neck pain which radiates to the shoulder, scapular (shoulder blade) region, arm or hands.
There are supplements that can be taken to reduce inflammation, such as Curcumin, Omega 3s, and CBD oil, among others. Certainly an alkalizing diet full of colorful vegetables and fruits helps pull down inflammation. Also, the LED light therapy that I do at Living Well Dallas is very effective for reducing inflammation due to arthritis.
If you would like help in any of these areas — nutritional coaching, supplementation, or LED light therapy — give us a call at 972-930-0260. We at Living Well Dallas are experts in all these areas and would love to be a part of your health care.
The next cause of back pain we will discuss is Structural Problems of the spine. These include scoliosis (a lateral curvature and rotation of the spine), defects within the vertebrae themselves, decreased flexibility and range of motion of the various spinal joints, and misalignments (minute rotations of one vertebrae relative to its neighbor or to the attached ribs).
This information comes from a book called “The Bum Back Book.”
In my last blog I mentioned that there are several general causes of back pain and discussed one of those causes. Today I will talk about another cause of back pain, which is poor posture. More specifically, we are talking about loss of flexibility and normal curve in the back. So, remaining flexible in the spine and being able to move in all directions helps maintain a strong back, free of chronic pain. Accidents, or even deep-seated emotional holding, can cause muscle constriction and pull the spine out of normal alignment.
Poor desk posture
Often, though, the curve of the lower back reverses simply because of poor postural habits, including: too many hours spent slumped over the computer or doing other desk work or even sleeping on a non-supportive mattress. Habitual tension and improper standing posture can also exaggerate the lower curve, producing a sway back and protruding abdomen. Any habitual deviation from a slight S curve (front to back), whether a reversal or an exaggeration, can create chronic pain.
Just remember that to maintain a healthy back, what is important is flexibility, movement, and diversity of posture.
This information comes from a book called “The Bum Back Book.”
Weather can be another source of back pain for some. Many people are not aware of the effects that weather has on their bodies. Cold weather, in particular, can aggravate a back problem since the muscles tend to constrict in cold weather. Drafts and dampness can also be detrimental to a bad back. Be sure to keep yourself warm and dry during cold weather. Layering your clothes on these days can be helpful.
