“Sit up straight”, I can’t tell you how many times I heard that as a kid, I had horrible for most of my life. As an adult, spending 20 years lugging around an addition 100 or so pounds proper posture just wasn’t an option and my back paid the price. Now that my weight is under control and I exercise regularly I can really see the difference and more importantly feel the difference of my improved posture. Even in pictures with others I now look taller, and I am 6’3″ to begin with!

So what is good posture? Basically it means your muscles are in balance and your body is symmetrical a deviation in good posture is usually caused by a lack of strength in particular muscles needed to keep that symmetry. Sounds simple enough right? So how important is good posture? Well it can be a big factor in your performance and overall well being, so I’d say pretty important.

The benefits of proper posture include:

? Proper organ alignment and placement allowing them to work effectively

? Your ability and endurance in everything from walking to weight lifting

? Reducing pain in joints from walking and running

? Prevention of back problems

You can easily gauge your posture at home. Simply stand against a flat wall with your back against the wall. Your heals, back of calves, butt, upper back and head should comfortably touch the wall. If you have to strain at all to make any of those points touch the wall you probably have some deviation. If it feels real weird (like it did for me the first time I did this self test) then you probably need to do some work to improve your posture.

You can generally improve your posture by strengthening the abdominal muscles, hip extensors & flexors, lower back muscles, trapezius, and neck flexors. Because this is your spine we are talking about I would recommend meeting with a qualified chiropractor to set up a strengthening program. So check your posture and if you find you have room for improvement then find a good qualified chiropractor and you will be amazed how quickly your posture improves and how much better you feel because of it.

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Sciatica surgery is a drastic therapy option performed on untold millions of patients who demonstrate the chronic and agonizing symptoms of unilateral or bilateral sciatica. Lower back and leg pain has reached epidemic proportions and although there are more treatments available than ever before, very few patients are able to achieve true and lasting cures. In fact, not only are most sciatica care options ineffective, but surgical interventions demonstrate some of the worst possible results and also have a high risk of causing more harm than good.

Sciatica surgery is a specialty of both the orthopedic and neurological sectors of medicine. There are a wide range of possible procedures utilized in an attempt to resolve serious and long standing sciatic pain issues, depending on the diagnosed source. The vast majority of patients will undergo lower spinal surgery, since most sciatica complaints are traced back to structural abnormalities in the lumbar or lumbosacral spinal regions. A few patients will undergo cervical spinal surgery, as their pain is theorized to exist due to spinal stenosis in the neck. A few patients will undergo non-spinal surgeries aimed at soft tissue abnormalities suspected of being the source of symptoms, such as in the case of piriformis syndrome.

Herniated discs are the most common of all the spinal irregularities treated surgically in association with lower body sciatica. While it is possible that herniated and bulging discs can indeed source sciatica symptoms, it is actually quite rare. Research statistics show little, if any, correlation between the incidence of lumbar herniations and sciatica pain conditions. In fact, clinical research clearly shows that a great number of patients have rather nasty looking herniated discs which have turned up on coincidental diagnostic imaging for unrelated conditions, while many seemingly minor disc issues are blamed daily for causing horrific and intractable pain. It makes little sense… When you consider the truly awful long term curative results from such surgeries as discectomy and spinal fusion, it is easy to see that the disc is most likely not the cause of the pain, but has merely been mistakenly identified as such. This misdiagnosis is a huge part of the iatrogenic error rampant in the healthcare sector and is a particularly huge burden to back pain sufferers worldwide.

Sciatica surgery can also be used to treat other innocent aspects of the spinal aging process, including degenerative disc disease and spinal osteoarthritis. I have yet to see a case of DDD which was truly responsible for sciatica, although many patients are diagnosed with just this verdict. This is amazing since disc desiccation is well known in the medical community to be a normal, expected and universal part of the aging process. No evidence of the process being inherently painful has ever come to definitive light. Osteoarthritic change in the lower spine is also par for the course and it is normal that people will suffer the typical central canal narrowing, foraminal narrowing and osteophyte formation common to osteoarthritis. I have seen many of these cases being the actual source of pain, but this still only represents maybe 5 to 10% of diagnosed cases.

Of course, there are many other structural issues treated surgically as well, when sciatic complaints are blamed on the changes seen on diagnostic imaging films. Some of these conditions include scoliosis, hyperlordosis, hypolordosis, spondylolisthesis, retrolisthesis and anterolisthesis. In virtually all cases, spinal fusion is utilized to fix the vertebrae into place. Of all back surgeries, this particular procedure offers the least hope of resolving pain and in many, many cases, actually makes the symptomatic expression far worse. However, it is fair to say that in at least 10% of cases, the diagnosis is correct as to the source of pain, despite the treatment being barbaric, unenlightened and virtually completely ineffectual.

My advice when it comes to sciatica surgery is simple. Don’t do it, unless it is deemed a medical emergency by at least 3 different surgeons. Don’t even think about it, unless all other options have been exhausted. Statistics are not on your side. Once damage has been done surgically (and yes, all manner of spinal surgeries cause incredible trauma), there may be no chance of ever being pain-free again. At the very least, do your own research and learn the real facts about sciatica surgery for yourself. If you like what you read, then by all means, you can still have the operation. However, once you go through with it, there is no “undoing” what has been perpetrated against your anatomy. Think carefully…

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If you are constantly in pain because your back hurts too much after a long day at work and you are looking for alternative and natural ways to alleviate your suffering, you should consider inversion therapy. Inversion therapy provides many essential benefits to the body and that includes back pain relief. To be able to maximize the benefits of the therapy, you will need to use one of the many inversion equipments available. However, before considering inversion therapy, it will be best if you consult your doctor first to determine your fitness to do inversion. Also, you can ask your doctor what type of inversion equipment will best suit to your situation. If your doctor will say that it will not be safe for you to do full inversion due to medical condition, ask him if you can use a back stretcher instead. However, if he says that you are physically fit and healthy to do inversion and to use whatever inversion equipment that you want to use, then you are fortunate enough because you are a step closer to enjoying all the benefits of inversion to your body.

Inversion tables and anti-gravity boots are two popular products used in inversion therapy. If you are still undecided on which one to purchase, then begin asking yourself these questions; which one is efficient? Which one is more challenging? Which one is cheaper? And which one fits you most?

If at the back of your mind, you want to make inversion therapy more challenging, then you should consider inversion gravity boots. However, be sure that you have an idea on how you are going to use the boots and you can handle your body weight without straining yourself too much while you are hanging upside down. If you are positive that you can do it and you can make the most benefits of inversion with the use of the gravity boots, no one should hold you back from purchasing a gravity boots.

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Looking for non-surgical options for back and neck pain in the Panama City area can be difficult. The Bay County area often does not have available services that you may find in larger cities. This article will break down several options you may wish to consider which can be found in this area. Each may be used separately but are used sometimes used together to give the patient all possible options before resorting to surgical approaches.

Chiropractic adjustments refers to a chiropractor applying a specific force to the vertebrae of the spine that may have abnormal movement or are out of position relative to the adjacent segments. This force must be directed specifically to correct the misalignment or it is just a random manipulation or the so called “popping a joint”. I often demonstrate the difference by saying it is similar to the thermostat in your house. To correct the temperature when you are warm you should specifically place the thermostat to the new temperature that you want not just push the bar all the way to the left. Chiropractic adjustments are one of the most common treatments for low back, neck, leg or arm pain. Proper chiropractic treatments themselves are done specifically to each patient to reduce the misaligned or abnormally functioning vertebra, which results in an increased range of motion, reduced nerve irritability and pain and improved function. Many times a patient will receive the same adjustment each time they are in an office until the correction is accomplished but rarely do two different patients get exactly the same adjustment.

Decompression Therapy is another form of non surgical treatment for herniated and bulging discs and assists doctors in treating low (lumbar) back pain as well as neck pain. The DRX9000C is one example of a decompression table providing spinal decompression. Many tables offering decompression are not true decompression tables so make sure you choose wisely here. Decompression table treatment provides a unique non surgical treatment for the management of pain and disability for patients suffering with bulging and herniated discs and low back pain and sciatica. A well designed system will apply spinal decompressive forces to areas of the spine that are compressed or degenerative. The area of decompression must be specific to the area treated to be effective. The system must also be able to “fool” the muscles that are guarding the area in order to get a negative pressure internally. Decompression treatment should definitely be considered if you are suffering with a confirmed disc problem and if you are facing surgery for any of the following conditions, herniated discs, bulging or protruding intervertebral discs, degenerative disc disease, posterior facet syndrome, and sciatica.

Pain Management focuses on using interventional techniques such as facet joint injections and nerve root blocks to provide immediate relief of pain so physical therapy and life style changes can be used for long term relief. Pain management must be performed by a Board Certified Pain Management doctor. These procedures may be done in office or on occasion can be performed at local surgical centers when necessary. In Panama City look for a office that provides a full service suite for these procedures so that you can schedule your appointments quickly should you require fast pain relief for an insult or injury. Reducing pain through injections can make the patients results come faster due to decreased spasm and inflammation in some cases. Injections can be used with decompression to provide immediate relief of pain followed by an appropriate cure of the underlying issue.

Physical Therapy can be either passive or active and is designed to each patients needs at the time of the clinical workup. Passive therapies include interferential therapy, ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation as well as others. Cold Lasers can be used for pain relief and to assist with healing of traumatized tissues.
In office supervised exercises. Many times the overlooked area of spinal care is the core muscles around the spine. If these muscles that control our movement and balance are left out of the clinical picture then the problem will reoccur at a later date. Utilizing swiss balls and balance boards can help many patients continue to experience relief long after treatment and prevent reoccurrence. Various cardiovascular, stretching and strengthening exercises may be prescribed by doctors to decrease back pain, increase strength and to help restore range of motion. Doctors may prescribe exercises that strengthen under-active muscles and/or weaken over-active muscles with the goal of attaining muscle balance and a balanced structure. Doctors may also have patients do exercises that strengthen the weak, underactive muscles of the trunk and pelvis, and exercises that stretch the tight, overactive muscles.

Massage therapy can be used separately as well as in combination with other treatment modalities to assist with stretching of tissues and reduce spasm as well as to promote relaxation and decrease scar tissue formation and fibrous after injury.

Acupuncture in some case may be of benefit but there are few resources here in Panama City currently where the practitioner is a full time acupuncturist. But this service can be of great clinical value in some cases.

These ares some of the non invasive and minimally invasive techniques that you can find right here in Panama City, FL and if you are looking for services elsewhere try to remember these options.

Panama City Chiropractor Dr. Hal C. Cowen D.C. A.B.A.A.H.P. is the owner and clinic director of Chironetwork Health Care Center a multidisiplinary clinic located in Panama City FL. He is Certified in Accident Reconstruction and Applied Spinal Biomechanics and Impairment Rating and is a Diplomate with the American Academy of Anti Aging Medicine as a American Board of Anti Aging Health Practitioner. He is also a member of the Florida Chiropractic Association and the American Academy of Spine Physicians. Services in our office include Chiropractic care, Medical Pain management, massage, physical therapy, decompression therapy and cold laser treatments. Our websites can be found at http://www.chironetworkhcc.com/ and http://www.healthfirstspine.com/ and our phone is 850-872-8880.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hal_Cowen

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Back pain has become so common, that in any room of a dozen people, you will typically find at LEAST three who have some kind of chronic back pain. Seriously, it’s epidemic. What do we do in our lives, to have caused back pain to be so common?

The simple answer is: our sedentary lifestyles. Our muscles really need move regularly to stay healthy. We have a workforce that sits. Well, at least a large percentage of the country is sitting a lot. If we aren’t sitting at work, very often we are *standing* in the same position for a long time, or in the case of someone like a mechanic, they are leaning over for long periods of time. Any position we HOLD for a long period of time makes changes to our muscle and connective tissue. In simple terms, when we are in holding patterns, our muscles, and all the soft tissue around it starts to stick together. When this happens, we start to reduce our normal ranges of motion, the pressure increases on areas adjacent to those muscles, and our nerves eventually start to receive messages of tension leading to more pressure and then pain.

To evaluate patterns, you can split our days into three sections: working, sleeping and recreation. Often the positions we are in for a long period of time are the most problematic. Recreation usually causes issues along the lines of repetitive strain injuries, as opposed to the holding patterns of being still. However, sleeping and work positions are held for hours and hours at a time. When the muscles and surrounding tissues are placed in a restricted position for a long period, it begins to shorten. Think of a rubber band that hasn’t been stretched in a long time. It loses it’s flexibility…our muscles get to the point where they are MUCH more comfortable in the shortened position. At that point, when you try to stretch the muscle out, it’s very likely to feel sore.

The next step for the majority of people, and the step *I* took when I had pain was to go to a doctor. The first office I walked into was an orthopedist, then a neurologist, who referred me to a physical therapist, then I saw a few chiropractors. When I finally made it to a massage therapist, who understood my muscular pattern, FIVE YEARS later, I was beat down. You see, at that point I was 25. I had been active, but after 5 years of pain every day that isolated me, kept me from normal social situations and created a deep level of depression, I really had resigned myself to the fact that I was going to live with that pain forever. I had seen several professionals who, in my eyes, should have understood the patterns enough to tell me it was muscular. They had hundreds of thousands of dollars of education and years and years of practice behind them. Had they seriously not EVER seen this type of issue before? Considering the many people I’ve spoken to in the subsequent 12 years since I let go of my pain, I find it HIGHLY unlikely that I am the only one who ever walked into that office with that type of issue, or the only one they ever waved off with an, ‘it’s all in your head’ comment. They all basically told me that I didn’t have anything wrong, or more specifically, “90% of the population has a bulging disc to this small degree, and only 10% have pain”. “There’s nothing I can do for you, but offer you medication to manage the pain.”

The reason I share that story, is that my GUESS is that if you are reading this article, you may have also had this type of experience. The truth is that most of these doctors are not trained in the kind of biomechanics that can evaluate these muscular patterns. It’s not something they have in their ‘tool box’. Part of the reason back pain is so common, is that most ‘solutions’ the doctors are placing on the table are related to what we call the ‘flow chart medicine’ plan…pharmaceutical to stronger pharmaceutical escalating to a scalpel. When the scalpel comes into play with a chronic muscular pattern, it can make the issue worse. Why? The scar tissue from surgery can create more pressure on nerves and restrictions in muscles.

If you want to alleviate chronically restricted muscular patterns, the secret recipe, generally, is to move! The more we move, through full ranges of motion, opening up the body to reduce restrictive patterns, and increase circulation, the better! Move more while you are working on the computer, sleep in a healthier position, exercise, and stretch. Allow your body to feed the muscles and soft tissue with the circulation that hasn’t been able to get to those spots. Recognize that unraveling old patterns can take some time, but that ‘quick fix’ solutions are rarely that.

I wish you well on your journey!

Tiffany Blackden is a Fort Collins Massage Therapist with over a decade of experience in the field. She thoroughly enjoys teaching massage therapists and the public about anatomy, massage and biomechanics. Her passion for years has been absorbing, living and breathing natural and holistic health practices. Not a day goes by, when she is not completely in awe of the human body. When not in the clinic, or in front of her computer, she is running, doing yoga and chasing around her two freakishly adorable children. For more information about the Fort Collins Massage Clinic she and her husband run, visit their website: http://www.fortcollins-massage.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tiffany_Blackden

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If your job is requiring you to travel a lot and it is causing you too much stress and chronic back pain, a Spine Worx Back Realignment system is a good companion. This back therapy device is handy and lightweight so you can actually take it wherever you go.

Reviews

Spine Worx Back Realignment Device is one of the most popular and positively reviewed home therapy systems for back pain. It works by allowing you to just lie over it for like 10 to 15 minutes and it can already realign your spine while relieving your back pain at the same time. It doesn’t work like an inversion table and it doesn’t look like it either, but some of its benefits are same as the benefits provided for by inversion tables.

It is a blue rectangular pad with two yellow padded and contoured rails which are injection-molded to fit the natural shape of your mid and lower back. You just have to place it on the floor, in your bed, or at your back while you are driving or sitting in a chair. Then it will work by itself in realigning your spine and providing you all its many other benefits.

Benefits

Reviews about Spine Worx revealed all these benefits of this system. First of all, it is proven to provide best relief for back pain. It also relieves muscle pain and stress. It realigns and strengthens the spine, promotes blood circulation and overall flexibility. It can also enhance your ability to think and it promotes good posture.

All these are the benefits that you can get out of a $35 Spine Worx device. However, before considering using this product, you have to be sure that you seek the advice of a physician or a chiropractor. Like any other device, this can also mean health risk if you are not qualified to use the system.

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With sleep being the best form of rest, most of us find ourselves tossing and turning for comfort or a better sleeping position. The early morning, slipping out of bed with a stiff back sore at the lower lumbar area, tell us that we have to do something about it. However, has the day progress? We are fatigue, listless and feel as if we ran into a moving truck.

What causes you to feel this way even though you think you had some sleep? The body goes into stress due to muscle tension, lower lumbar pain, and poor blood circulation. This is from bad posture, sitting behind a desk, or driving. The vertebra puts pressure on the disc of your spine, resulting in compression of the nerve against the spine. Due to this, the pressure targets the lower region of the buttocks, legs, and back.

Circulation is poor and muscles tension brings pain to the lumbar area. The inability to move forwards or backwards put stress on the spine, which cause further damage. The spine burdens the weight of the entire body leaving you in pain. This pain travels to the entire body tensing the muscles. You will be a constant victim to backache, tension headache, should pain, stiff back and painful muscles.

With the latest lumbar support pillow for bed, you can experience a perfect rest. When the body is asleep, the spine aligns itself, relax the muscles, and promote healthy body circulation. The lumber support for bed is designed to work with your body. It contours to your sleep movements and different sleep positions. You do not have to use two to three pillows at night. The lumber support for bed holds the head, neck, and shoulders in a position, while the middle section supports the back; the bottom part supports the hip and legs. This reduces head, neck, and back from strain. Therefore, a perfect sleep free from body pain, muscle tension, aching, stiff joints, and backache will stop once you use the lumber support pillow for bed.

Its unique feature blends with regular bedding. It is 100% hypoallergenic and easily washable. The lumber support pillow for bed can be purchased in the color of your choice. It can be easily transported even taken to overnight sleep parties.

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There are several different ways to treat back pain, but among these techniques, physical therapy is considered by most experts the most effective. Many people have testified about the effectiveness of physical therapy and how it has helped them return to their normal lives without the idea of undergoing surgery. If you are having troubles with stubborn back pains, consider seeing a physical therapist or commonly referred to as PT.

Physical therapists specialize in maintaining or restoring optimum bodily movement and function. They concentrate on different areas such as neurologic, cardiopulmonary, and orthopedic. When looking for a physical therapist to treat your back pain, find someone who specializes in orthopedics, which is the study of both the muscular and skeletal system. A PT may work with your doctor especially in studying your history and giving you physical examinations before arriving at a diagnosis.

Do not hesitate to describe what kind of pain you are feeling because this will help your physical therapist develop the appropriate exercise technique for your condition. You will be given therapeutic exercises depending on the severity of the pain you are experiencing. If it involves the spine, spine manipulation may be necessary. The application of hot and cold packs also fall under the classification of treatment that orthopedic physical therapists use.

A change of lifestyle is a required for someone who is undergoing any kind of physical therapy. A normal physical therapy program usually lasts for two months and that depending on the case of the back pain. However, if you desire to experience permanent results, you have to resolve in disciplining yourself in following religiously what your PT advises you to do. That includes quitting bad habits like smoking and drinking, exercising to lose weight, and being consistent in attending your treatment sessions.

One of the challenges you might face after you have completed the therapy is maintaining a lifestyle that would lower your risk for experiencing back pains all over again. For more permanent results, find a program that would help you stay on the right track. Your physical therapist can provide you with one or you can do some research on the subject.

Always remember that the secret to a successful physical therapy program is one that is equipped in leading the patient not only in traditional methods but also in techniques that they can use even on their own. These are the ones that will help you get back on your feet in no time, free from any trace of back pain.

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Causes of Lower Back Pain

For many sufferers of lower back pain or lumbago there may not be any fundamental cause of the back problem. Back pain can occur because of damage, tension or inflammation in any part of its complex structure from the coccyx (tailbone) to the cervical joints (neck). The lower part of the back, often called the lumbar region or lumbar spine is a common site of back pain as it is often under constant pressure from supporting all of the body weight above. It’s also at risk of further damage sometimes due to lifting heavy objects or making twisting movements as part of daily activities either in the workplace as part of occupational routine, or hobbies and pastimes such as gardening or golf.

Usually, back pain sufferers recover completely, by avoiding further strain to their lower back. Initial back treatment often comprises the application of heat and cold back pain therapy, or medication. If the back pain continues for more than a few days then it’s wise to see your GP to seek advice on an effective back pain therapy regime and ensure that there are not more serious (although infrequent) underlying reasons for the back problem which could include-

Degenerative disc disease – where the discs in the spine gradually wear down

A fracture – maybe as the result of a fall or injury

Osteoarthritis – a wear-and-tear disease that can affect the spinal joints

Osteoporosis – where the bones lose density causing them to become weak, brittle and more likely to break

Rheumatoid arthritis – an inflammatory condition of the immune system leading to inflammation of joint linings and surrounding structures

Slipped disc – where a disc bulges to the point that it exerts pressure on the spinal nerves

Spinal stenosis – a condition where the spaces in the spine narrow restricting the nerves

Spondylolithesis – where one of the spinal bones slips out of position

Research has indicated that although some types of low back pain may be partly due to genetics (i.e a tendency to develop lower back pain or lumbar pain could be inherited from parents), it is often generally sparked off or aggravated by the following factors:-

Driving for long periods

What’s happening here is not dissimilar to posture related conditions. Quite often it’s a combination of adopting a ‘slouch’ behind the wheel where the spine is not in a natural ‘at rest’ position. Instead the lumbar region is being subjected to contortion and constricted movement, which can cause increased uneven pressures in the vertebral joints, and stress and tension in the surrounding muscles and ligaments. This can lead to lower back pain in drivers after long periods behind the wheel. In addition to this the driver is being subjected to ‘whole body vibration’ which occurs when the body is in contact with a surface that is oscillating e.g. car wheels over an uneven road surface or the vibrations from the vehicle engine. These vibrations are transferred through the body to the spine and soft tissues which in turn can cause damage and back pain. (Source: Magnusson ML, Pope MH, Wilder DG, Areskoug B. Are occupational drivers at an increased risk for developing musculoskeletal spine disorders?)

Lifting heavy objects

Applying unbalanced or excessively heavy loads on the spine can lead to back problems, either as an acute (short term) lower back pain or maybe potentially leading to chronic (long term) conditions in the future. Alternatively it might be caused by repetitively lifting lighter objects as part of our occupation. We all know the rules around the workplace. “Lift close to your body, keep the back and hips straight, bend the knees to lower the ground” etc but often we don’t apply these rules to get the job done and it’s only when the back pain kicks in do we sometimes revert to common sense application of the rules. It’s important to be aware of the consequences

Poor posture

This might be caused by a number of factors such your ‘normal’seated position in the workplace. These could include a poorly ergonomically designed pc workstation, or poorly designed work layout around a process. Initially this could cause stiffness in the facet joints of the lumbar region (These are the ‘flat’ plate like joints connecting the vertebrae.), with the surrounding muscles, overworking to stabilise this becoming irritated and inflamed thereby causing lower back or lumbar pain or sciatica Over prolonged periods poor postural position may also cause your vertebrae to apply uneven pressure on the discs in between possibly leading to a bulging disc or herniated disc, which again would cause long term back pain and discomfort for the sufferer.

Standing for long periods

It’s estimated that an adult can be up to half an inch shorter in the evening than in the morning. That’s because whilst a person is standing or upright throughout the day then gravity is constantly causing downwards pressure on the joints of the lower back and eventually this could lead to back pain or discomfort. It may be useful to do occasional stretches, or try to move around if you can, or sit down at opportune moments

Stress

There is an association between stress and back pain. Under stress, there is a tendency for muscles to tense, which has the effect of causing a reduction in blood flow to the surrounding tissue. This can lead to a build up of acidic waste e.g. lactic acid, which if not taken away by the blood flow can cause fatigue and pain. This lumbar pain, this in turn may cause further stress in a vicious circle

Twisting or bending awkwardly

A good example is the incidence of Lumbar pain in golfers which is a common condition due to the typical golf swing being such an unnatural and stressful movement, especially for weekend golfers employed in sedentary occupations. The Golf swing generates a considerable force which can cause muscular strain or even tears to occur in the muscle. In addition, when overstretching of the ligaments occurs, this can lead to ligamentous sprains. To try to reduce lumbar pain in golfers instructors often advise them to realign their swing to be more upright rather than sideways bending

Weight Issues

The spine will normally support the body’s weight during normal activities. If a person is overweight or obese it follows that the spine is forced to assimilate the additional loads, which could lead to structural compromise and damage resulting in conditions such as sciatica. Another consequence of obesity is a reduction in exercise and conditioning resulting in decreased flexibility or mobility in the lower back, together with weak muscles in the lumbar region and pelvis, leading to posture issues resulting in lumbar pain. Being overweight or obese can significantly contribute to symptoms associated with the more conditions listed above. (Source: Eidelson SG. Aging and Exercise)

Remember – If back pain continues after a few days then consult your GP

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Sciatica is a condition that affects the sciatic nerve by causing pressure to it. Sciatica is not always serious and is usually gone within six weeks or so. The sciatic nerve has its roots at the spinal cord’s lowest end. It has two branches that run from each side of the pelvis, buttocks, and down the back of the leg to the foot.

Sciatic pain can be anywhere in the buttocks, down to the leg or foot but the pain will usually only be on one side of the body. The pain may be accompanied by numbness and can be aggravated by sneezing, coughing, or sitting for long periods of time. It is further aggravated by lifting. Sciatica does not happen overnight but comes on slowly.

Sciatica can occur when there is inflammation, or if there is compression of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica is not considered a disease by itself and usually occurs because of different causes. A pinched nerve in the lower spine can cause sciatica. A herniated disc in the lower back is also a cause for sciatica. The herniated disc can come on suddenly or it can occur over time.

Spinal Decompression is often the preferred treatment option for sciatic pain. Spinal decompression is a non surgical and non invasive form of therapy that will eliminate the space between the spinal cord and the spinal nerve and reduce or eliminate pain. Spinal decompression works by stretching the spine gently and causing a vacuum that will restore the disc and reduce any bulging.

If you are suffering from sciatic pain you should see your chiropractor for a proper diagnosis. If you are indeed suffering from sciatica then you should consult with a chiropractic professional that understands spinal decompression using VAX-D Therapy. If you live in or around the Bala Cynwyd area of Pennsylvania, there are several choices available that offer spinal decompression in order to alleviate the pain of sciatica. Many of the clinics offer consultation at no cost to determine if you are a candidate for VAX-D spinal decompression therapy.

Back pain of any sort is not something you want to place on the back burner because it does not go away by itself. Some back pain may be intermittent but will return and each time it returns it is stronger. Severe back pain can keep you from going to work, keep you away from your normal activities whether they are family oriented or sports oriented. It is unnecessary to suffer lower back pain when there is relief in the form of spinal decompression.

Spinal decompression and sciatica are a combination that can give you long term pain relief and bring you back to being yourself again. There is nothing that can change ones attitude and personality faster then the back pain of sciatica.

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