When you pull a lower-back muscle, they need special care to heal. Without understanding the body's recovery process, many people innocently cause themselves more low-back pain. And they slow their own healing.
This one practice seems harmless, and it offers temporary relief from pain and soreness. So, how could it be causing long-term damage?
This one common self-care practice is Heat application.
Typical scenario:
It's the first heavy snowfall of the winter season, and your lower back muscles were not ready to shovel the entire driveway and front walkway. The next day, your whole lumbar area is extremely sore. So, you settle into the couch in the evening, with a heat pad on your lower back.
Heat is like a new trend in self-medication. We have heated car seats, and even our couches have cushions that heat up. We keep heat packs at the office, too. Heat offers a quick fix, but it may aggravate the condition.
Why is heat application so bad for relieving aches and pains?
Pain and soreness might be your back's way of screaming out for assist. They are frequently a sign of inflammation, and overactivity.
When we apply heat, our mind blocks out pain signals temporarily. But if the pain is due to inflammation, the pain would return when the heat is removed. And it could return with a vengeance.
Is your weary body calling out for more heat?
Instead, apply Ice. Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation are the four basic steps of first aid. (Notice: heat is not included).
If you consider that your lower back muscles need to rest and cool down, then try the greater relief and healing of ice.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tendinitis and Back Pain
After 48 hours of the injury physiotherapy treatment should be apply to accelerate heeling process by repairing damage tissue, restoring full movement of the joint and muscles strength. Strong ligaments also attach to adjacent vertebrae to give extra support and strength to the spine. be sure that you exercise to strengthen the muscles around the tendon to prevent the condition coming back.
Once the pain has reduced, a programme of personal exercises designed for the patient to assist the muscles regain their strength. It is significant that the activity which caused the problem is not resumed until the whole area is looser, the area is completely pain free and the muscles have regained their strength otherwise the problem would just recur. Any sport that aggravates the tendon should be stopped for at least a week, although exercise that doesn't stress the tendon, like swimming, might be possible. Regular pain relief with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like Ibuprofen, steroid injections bandaging and orthotic devices, like shoe inserts and heel lifts, to take the stress off the tendon.
Physiotherapy/bodywork massage, to strengthen the weak muscle group in the front of the leg and the upward foot flexors. Surgery, (rarely needed) to remove fibrous tissue and repair tears.
Yoga
Yoga improves our concentration and could make us stronger both physically and emotionally. Yoga offers us a holistic approach to body, mind and spirit, which could offer us with the tools to cope with the challenges of daily life. Yoga is suitable for people of all ages and ability. Yoga also serves younger students and athletes by balancing strength with flexibility and physical training with mental and spiritual focus.
Practice
Regular practice enables an increased level of movement and suppleness in the body, improved circulation, better balance and posture. Deep abdominal breathing, which assists to cleanse and nourish the body; and proper relaxation techniques are practiced.
You must be allowed to twist and stretch during your practice, so you need yoga clothing that allows your body freedom to move and breath. Yoga could be practiced at any age, extending health throughout a lifetime. We practice our yoga to the guidelines of the scriptures of Patanjali. It increases the would power and the power of concentration. The prolonged practice of yoga would, in time, lead the student to a sense of peace and a feeling of being at one with his or hers environment. The Indian sage Patanjali collated the practice of yoga into 195 statements presented as the Yoga Sutras around 2000 years ago. "Well-structured yoga classes with excellent instruction are great for developing a confident self practice.
Glen Wood - The Yoga Teacher. Glen is a yoga expert who loves to teach you how to lose your neck, shoulder or back pain with yoga. He is dedicated to unlocking the Real Secrets of Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain.
Once the pain has reduced, a programme of personal exercises designed for the patient to assist the muscles regain their strength. It is significant that the activity which caused the problem is not resumed until the whole area is looser, the area is completely pain free and the muscles have regained their strength otherwise the problem would just recur. Any sport that aggravates the tendon should be stopped for at least a week, although exercise that doesn't stress the tendon, like swimming, might be possible. Regular pain relief with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like Ibuprofen, steroid injections bandaging and orthotic devices, like shoe inserts and heel lifts, to take the stress off the tendon.
Physiotherapy/bodywork massage, to strengthen the weak muscle group in the front of the leg and the upward foot flexors. Surgery, (rarely needed) to remove fibrous tissue and repair tears.
Yoga
Yoga improves our concentration and could make us stronger both physically and emotionally. Yoga offers us a holistic approach to body, mind and spirit, which could offer us with the tools to cope with the challenges of daily life. Yoga is suitable for people of all ages and ability. Yoga also serves younger students and athletes by balancing strength with flexibility and physical training with mental and spiritual focus.
Practice
Regular practice enables an increased level of movement and suppleness in the body, improved circulation, better balance and posture. Deep abdominal breathing, which assists to cleanse and nourish the body; and proper relaxation techniques are practiced.
You must be allowed to twist and stretch during your practice, so you need yoga clothing that allows your body freedom to move and breath. Yoga could be practiced at any age, extending health throughout a lifetime. We practice our yoga to the guidelines of the scriptures of Patanjali. It increases the would power and the power of concentration. The prolonged practice of yoga would, in time, lead the student to a sense of peace and a feeling of being at one with his or hers environment. The Indian sage Patanjali collated the practice of yoga into 195 statements presented as the Yoga Sutras around 2000 years ago. "Well-structured yoga classes with excellent instruction are great for developing a confident self practice.
Glen Wood - The Yoga Teacher. Glen is a yoga expert who loves to teach you how to lose your neck, shoulder or back pain with yoga. He is dedicated to unlocking the Real Secrets of Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Is Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy Considered An Good Treatment Choice For Back Pain?
With millions of back pain sufferers worldwide looking for alternative ways to check chronic back pain relief, non-surgical spinal decompression therapyarises. Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy has successfully treated many back pain sufferers who received unsatisfactory results with traditional treatment methods like bed rest, physical therapy, pain medications, acupuncture, surgery and traction. As new clinical research demonstrating the positive outcomes of this form of therapy continues to surface, it may not take long before it is widely considered to be an effective treatment option for chronic back pain conditions.
In a recent study published in Pain Practice, patient outcomes indicated that chronic low back pain improved with treatment on the DRX9000 True Non-surgical Spinal Decompression System.
The study titled, "Treatment of 94 Outpatients With Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain with the DRX9000: A Retrospective Chart Review" indicated that patients with a mean pain duration of 535 weeks (Over 10 years) reported a mean verbal numerical pain intensity rating equal to 6.05 on a 0 to 10 scale prior to treatment with the DRX9000.
Patients were treated at four clinics throughout the United States. They received 30-minute DRX9000 sessions daily for the first 2 weeks tapering to 1 session/week.
After the completion of the DRX9000 True Non-surgical Spinal Decompression System therapy, the mean verbal numerical pain intensity rating decreased to a statistically and clinically significant rating of 0.89.
Furthermore, patients also reported a decrease in analgesic use and improvement in activities of daily living.
The authors were able to follow-up at a mean 31 weeks with 29 patients and reveal mean values of 83% improvement in back pain and satisfaction of 8.55 on a 10-point scale. None of these 29 patients reported requiring surgery. The authors also acknowledge that there are other spinal decompression systems available commercially. However, they suggest that the design difference between these devices, "may lead to differing physical responses to therapy, so studies of one type of apparatus should not readily be applied across all machines."
As more clinical research demonstrating positive results utilizing this form of treatment is disseminated, the question may no longer be whether it's effective but rather who offers it.
In a recent study published in Pain Practice, patient outcomes indicated that chronic low back pain improved with treatment on the DRX9000 True Non-surgical Spinal Decompression System.
The study titled, "Treatment of 94 Outpatients With Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain with the DRX9000: A Retrospective Chart Review" indicated that patients with a mean pain duration of 535 weeks (Over 10 years) reported a mean verbal numerical pain intensity rating equal to 6.05 on a 0 to 10 scale prior to treatment with the DRX9000.
Patients were treated at four clinics throughout the United States. They received 30-minute DRX9000 sessions daily for the first 2 weeks tapering to 1 session/week.
After the completion of the DRX9000 True Non-surgical Spinal Decompression System therapy, the mean verbal numerical pain intensity rating decreased to a statistically and clinically significant rating of 0.89.
Furthermore, patients also reported a decrease in analgesic use and improvement in activities of daily living.
The authors were able to follow-up at a mean 31 weeks with 29 patients and reveal mean values of 83% improvement in back pain and satisfaction of 8.55 on a 10-point scale. None of these 29 patients reported requiring surgery. The authors also acknowledge that there are other spinal decompression systems available commercially. However, they suggest that the design difference between these devices, "may lead to differing physical responses to therapy, so studies of one type of apparatus should not readily be applied across all machines."
As more clinical research demonstrating positive results utilizing this form of treatment is disseminated, the question may no longer be whether it's effective but rather who offers it.
Non Surgical Back Pain Cure
Eighty percent of North Americans have some back pain, usually lower back pain at some time in their lives. And about 45% of those folks have repeated back pain attacks.
If you could recover from back pain without surgery, you are much better off. You may have unforeseen complications, anything from infection to nerve damage. Back surgery could go wrong leaving you with more pain than you started with. Plus most surgeries are not really necessary.
Most people who suffer back pain have a problem with the short rigid back muscles and it could be relieved by improving your posture while sitting, standing, and working regular aerobic exercise; stretching and exercises to strengthen your back muscles.
At least 20% of the people with back pain have spinal injuries involving the rupture of one or more disks, a gel filled shock absorber between the vertebrae, or bones of the spinal stack. Before thinking about surgery, you should wait at least 3 months after being diagnosed by a doctor and use alternative remedies during that time unless there is an emergency for such surgery. Many times the disks would acquire better with the same type of nonmedical treatments that repair the back muscles.
SITTING:
The proper position for sitting is just in front of your ischium bones of the pelvis. Those are the big bones that you could feel pressing against the chair right where your thighs end and your buttocks begin. At least you could feel them when you are sitting correctly. Lean slightly forward from the hips, then keeping your pelvis in place, move your upper back slightly back. That means do not slouch forward, do not round or hunch your back and shoulders and keep your feet flat on the floor. You should become conscious of the curve in the small of the back.
The key to this back pain relieving, pain preventing sitting posture is to lift your breastbone as you are seated. Pretend that a string is attached to the middle of your chest and is tugging your breastbone upwards. You prefer to lengthen the space between your belly button and your breastbone. This corrected sitting posture would feel awkward for a few days, however, because sitting incorrectly for so long could change the configuration and tone of your muscles.
Do this breastbone lifting exercise whenever you notice that you are leaning back or slumping over. The resulting posture not only would position your body correctly on your sit bones, but would also position the head correctly on the spine, putting the spine in a natural alignment that supports your musculature and gives the overworked muscles of the lower back some needed relief. Plus relieve some of that back pain.
DRIVING:
A lot of people who drive for a living have bad back pain. This is because car seats seem to be designed to hurt the back. Your knees are higher than your hips, throwing the weight of your body onto the sciatic nerve. Plus your leaning back with the head forward and the arms extended, which stresses your lower back and neck.
To minimize the damage, your car seat should be as flat as possible so that your knees and hips are at the same level, you prefer to drive the same way you sit.
If your car seat doesn't adjust automatically, you could build up the dip by sitting on a folded towel, a foam wedge, or a small pillow. Put a small pillow behind your lower back also.
Next, position the seat so that you aren't reaching for the steering wheel or leaning forward to grasp the wheel. The wheel should be close enough that your arms could hang naturally from the shoulders and your shoulders feel relaxed.
Just be sure your breastbone is about 10 inches from the center of the steering wheel. That way, you would lessen the possibility of injury from your seatbelt or airbag if your in an accident.
STANDING:
For back pain free posture when standing, do the breastbone lifting exercise, then have a friend look at you from the side. If you are standing correctly that is, in a posture that could prevent or relieve back pain a vertical line could pass through your ear, the middle of your shoulder, the middle of your hip bone, and the outside of your ankle bone.
Correcting posture induced back pain is really logical and really simple, but people make it so difficult. The body is a perfect mechanism. All we have to do is remove whatever imbalances are in the way of the body performing the way it is supposed to and this exercise does that.
LIFTING:
You probably know how not to lift; never bend over at the waist. And maybe you have also learned the commonly prescribed method of correct lifting to prevent back pain. Squat with your knees apart, with the object between your knees and as close as possible to your body. Using your legs, stand up and lift, bringing the object closer to you body as you stand. Be sure to keep your back straight also.
For those people who cannot manage a squat, however, there's another way. Put one knee on the floor. Then using your arms move the object onto the oposite thigh and with a firm grip on the object stand up.
If you could recover from back pain without surgery, you are much better off. You may have unforeseen complications, anything from infection to nerve damage. Back surgery could go wrong leaving you with more pain than you started with. Plus most surgeries are not really necessary.
Most people who suffer back pain have a problem with the short rigid back muscles and it could be relieved by improving your posture while sitting, standing, and working regular aerobic exercise; stretching and exercises to strengthen your back muscles.
At least 20% of the people with back pain have spinal injuries involving the rupture of one or more disks, a gel filled shock absorber between the vertebrae, or bones of the spinal stack. Before thinking about surgery, you should wait at least 3 months after being diagnosed by a doctor and use alternative remedies during that time unless there is an emergency for such surgery. Many times the disks would acquire better with the same type of nonmedical treatments that repair the back muscles.
SITTING:
The proper position for sitting is just in front of your ischium bones of the pelvis. Those are the big bones that you could feel pressing against the chair right where your thighs end and your buttocks begin. At least you could feel them when you are sitting correctly. Lean slightly forward from the hips, then keeping your pelvis in place, move your upper back slightly back. That means do not slouch forward, do not round or hunch your back and shoulders and keep your feet flat on the floor. You should become conscious of the curve in the small of the back.
The key to this back pain relieving, pain preventing sitting posture is to lift your breastbone as you are seated. Pretend that a string is attached to the middle of your chest and is tugging your breastbone upwards. You prefer to lengthen the space between your belly button and your breastbone. This corrected sitting posture would feel awkward for a few days, however, because sitting incorrectly for so long could change the configuration and tone of your muscles.
Do this breastbone lifting exercise whenever you notice that you are leaning back or slumping over. The resulting posture not only would position your body correctly on your sit bones, but would also position the head correctly on the spine, putting the spine in a natural alignment that supports your musculature and gives the overworked muscles of the lower back some needed relief. Plus relieve some of that back pain.
DRIVING:
A lot of people who drive for a living have bad back pain. This is because car seats seem to be designed to hurt the back. Your knees are higher than your hips, throwing the weight of your body onto the sciatic nerve. Plus your leaning back with the head forward and the arms extended, which stresses your lower back and neck.
To minimize the damage, your car seat should be as flat as possible so that your knees and hips are at the same level, you prefer to drive the same way you sit.
If your car seat doesn't adjust automatically, you could build up the dip by sitting on a folded towel, a foam wedge, or a small pillow. Put a small pillow behind your lower back also.
Next, position the seat so that you aren't reaching for the steering wheel or leaning forward to grasp the wheel. The wheel should be close enough that your arms could hang naturally from the shoulders and your shoulders feel relaxed.
Just be sure your breastbone is about 10 inches from the center of the steering wheel. That way, you would lessen the possibility of injury from your seatbelt or airbag if your in an accident.
STANDING:
For back pain free posture when standing, do the breastbone lifting exercise, then have a friend look at you from the side. If you are standing correctly that is, in a posture that could prevent or relieve back pain a vertical line could pass through your ear, the middle of your shoulder, the middle of your hip bone, and the outside of your ankle bone.
Correcting posture induced back pain is really logical and really simple, but people make it so difficult. The body is a perfect mechanism. All we have to do is remove whatever imbalances are in the way of the body performing the way it is supposed to and this exercise does that.
LIFTING:
You probably know how not to lift; never bend over at the waist. And maybe you have also learned the commonly prescribed method of correct lifting to prevent back pain. Squat with your knees apart, with the object between your knees and as close as possible to your body. Using your legs, stand up and lift, bringing the object closer to you body as you stand. Be sure to keep your back straight also.
For those people who cannot manage a squat, however, there's another way. Put one knee on the floor. Then using your arms move the object onto the oposite thigh and with a firm grip on the object stand up.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Herniated Disc - Reasons, Symptoms And Diagnosis
Herniated discs are extremely common back injuries. Herniated disc disease is due to a change in the structure of the normal disc. Most of the time, disc disease comes as a result of aging and the degeneration that occurs within the disc. Occasionally, severe trauma could cause a normal disc to herniate. Trauma may also cause an already herniated disc to worsen. They occur when the thick outer layer (annulus fibrosus) of an intervertebral spinal disc bulges or ruptures. Sometimes, the gel-like interior of the disc (nucleus pulposus) would actually break through the outer layer and leak out into the body. This is called a ruptured or extruded disc.
Some herniated disks could be painful. The most common signs and symptoms of a herniated disk are:
- Sciatica - a radiating, aching pain, sometimes with tingling and numbness, that starts in the buttock and extends down the back of one leg
- Pain, numbness or weakness in the lower back and one leg, or in the neck, shoulder, chest or arm
- Low back pain that worsens when you sit, cough or sneeze
Several risk factors make you more susceptible to a herniated disk:
- Age : Herniated disks are most common in middle age ( after age 60 ) due to aging-related degeneration of the disks.
- Smoking : Smoking tobacco increases the risk of disk herniation because it decreases oxygen levels in the blood, depriving your body tissues of vital nutrients.
- Weight : Excess body weight causes extra stress on the disks in the lower back.
- Diabetes : Diabetes could deplete oxygen levels in the blood, making spinal disks more prone to herniation and disease.
- Occupations that strain the spine : Physical Work ( like lifting, pulling, pushing etc.), like farming, concrete reinforcement, lumber work, quarry work, food packing, trucking and warehousing. Sitting or standing in one position also may increase the risk of disk herniation.
The doctor's are diagnosis by using below methods:
X-ray -- High-energy radiation is used to take pictures of the spine.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) -- An MRI offers detailed pictures of the spine that are produced with a powerful magnet linked to a computer.
Computed Tomography (CT) Scan -- A CT scan uses a thin X-ray beam that rotates around the spine area. A computer processes data to construct a three-dimensional, cross-sectional image.
Electromyography (EMG) -- This test measures muscle response to nervous stimulation.
Some herniated disks could be painful. The most common signs and symptoms of a herniated disk are:
- Sciatica - a radiating, aching pain, sometimes with tingling and numbness, that starts in the buttock and extends down the back of one leg
- Pain, numbness or weakness in the lower back and one leg, or in the neck, shoulder, chest or arm
- Low back pain that worsens when you sit, cough or sneeze
Several risk factors make you more susceptible to a herniated disk:
- Age : Herniated disks are most common in middle age ( after age 60 ) due to aging-related degeneration of the disks.
- Smoking : Smoking tobacco increases the risk of disk herniation because it decreases oxygen levels in the blood, depriving your body tissues of vital nutrients.
- Weight : Excess body weight causes extra stress on the disks in the lower back.
- Diabetes : Diabetes could deplete oxygen levels in the blood, making spinal disks more prone to herniation and disease.
- Occupations that strain the spine : Physical Work ( like lifting, pulling, pushing etc.), like farming, concrete reinforcement, lumber work, quarry work, food packing, trucking and warehousing. Sitting or standing in one position also may increase the risk of disk herniation.
The doctor's are diagnosis by using below methods:
X-ray -- High-energy radiation is used to take pictures of the spine.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) -- An MRI offers detailed pictures of the spine that are produced with a powerful magnet linked to a computer.
Computed Tomography (CT) Scan -- A CT scan uses a thin X-ray beam that rotates around the spine area. A computer processes data to construct a three-dimensional, cross-sectional image.
Electromyography (EMG) -- This test measures muscle response to nervous stimulation.
Inversion Therapy - Realigning Spine
Inversion therapy? At first glance it may sound like a proposed cure for over-taxed mathematicians, but it is actually a treatment for joints and muscles touted by no less than that the enormously clever secret agent, Angus MacGyver. If the man who popularized using duct tape and Swiss Army knives as cure-alls for every conceivable household or mechanical ailment and who once hotwired a broken truck with little more than a turkey baster, a paper clip, and tweezers used inversion therapy, it must be good.
Inversion therapy works by suspending a person head down at an angle. The ankles are first clamped to an inversion table, allowing the body to rest at an inverted angle. This decompresses everything below the ankles and allows every joint to benefit from an equal and opposite action from that in an upright position.
This is especially beneficial for those suffering from back pain. Inversion therapy releases pressure on the discs, ligaments, and nerve roots of the spinal column, allowing them to return to their natural shape. This is great for treating sore muscles, shoulder tension, and joint pain.
Because only the movement of your feet is prevented, the rest of the body is free to move. There are several exercises which could be done in an inverted position which would increase your body's flexibility. As the muscles are already pre-stretched from being upside down, exercising in an inverted position would allow for stretching of muscles that would result in greater flexibility.
While not a cure for serious back ailments, inversion therapy offers great relief from occasional stiffness, soreness, back and joint pain. In addition, proponents of inversion state that it aids in improving posture by aligning the spine and increasing blood flow by acting on the circulatory system in an opposite manner than when the body is standing.
Inversion therapy works by suspending a person head down at an angle. The ankles are first clamped to an inversion table, allowing the body to rest at an inverted angle. This decompresses everything below the ankles and allows every joint to benefit from an equal and opposite action from that in an upright position.
This is especially beneficial for those suffering from back pain. Inversion therapy releases pressure on the discs, ligaments, and nerve roots of the spinal column, allowing them to return to their natural shape. This is great for treating sore muscles, shoulder tension, and joint pain.
Because only the movement of your feet is prevented, the rest of the body is free to move. There are several exercises which could be done in an inverted position which would increase your body's flexibility. As the muscles are already pre-stretched from being upside down, exercising in an inverted position would allow for stretching of muscles that would result in greater flexibility.
While not a cure for serious back ailments, inversion therapy offers great relief from occasional stiffness, soreness, back and joint pain. In addition, proponents of inversion state that it aids in improving posture by aligning the spine and increasing blood flow by acting on the circulatory system in an opposite manner than when the body is standing.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Sciatica - Natural Treatments
Sciatica is a set of symptoms including pain that might be caused by general compression and/or irritation of one of five nerve roots that give rise to the sciatic nerve, or by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve itself.
Sciatica is generally caused by the compression of lumbar nerves L4 or L5 or sacral nerves S1, S2 or S3, or far less commonly, by compression of the sciatic nerve itself.
Sciatica is characterized by pain in the lower back and gluteal region. It is a set of symptoms rather than a diagnosis in itself (meaning it does not explain the cause of the pain). Sciatica is worse in the evening, better in the morning and aggravated by fatigue. Besides discomfort, sciatica is known to cause numbness in the affected regions of the body, as well as trouble with controlling the leg.
Common non-surgical treatments include over-the-counter pain relievers, prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), hot and cold packs, spinal injections, chiropractic care, physical therapy, and natural remedy supplements.
The goals of non-surgical natural sciatica treatment should include both relief of sciatica pain and prevention of future sciatica symptoms.
The natural treatments of sciatica discussed below are nutritionally balanced solutions that tend to raise overall health. They contain enzymes and many other naturally occurring phyto-nutrients shown to assist reverse and prevent disease generally by optimizing the immune and hormonal systems.
Capra Mineral Whey is 100% natural, mineral-rich, goat's milk whey powder. Goat's milk is the most widely consumed milk in the world and is largely like human milk in its composition. Capra goats are not fed any pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, or growth hormones.
This milk contains more than 20 naturally occurring minerals which would offer benefits to weak and painful joints and would soothe and heal the digestive and intestinal tract. This is also a natural immune system enhancer.
Boron is a really effective treatment for about 95% or more of the relief of arthritis. Its range of action extends to adding calcium into the cartilage and bone and combined with Capra milk is a really useful natural remedy for Sciatica.
Serrapeptase is a naturally occurring physiologic agent which digests inflammation in all forms. It is a viable alternative to salicylates, ibuprophen, and more potent NSAIDS. It is a really good natural treatment for all types of pain including Sciatica.
Zell-Oxygen is a substance that improves the balance of the immune system by assisting cellular communication. This product has many years of clinical use. Its Beta-Glucans strengthen the immune system which assists to eliminate infection which is an essential part of any regenerative program.
Sciatica is generally caused by the compression of lumbar nerves L4 or L5 or sacral nerves S1, S2 or S3, or far less commonly, by compression of the sciatic nerve itself.
Sciatica is characterized by pain in the lower back and gluteal region. It is a set of symptoms rather than a diagnosis in itself (meaning it does not explain the cause of the pain). Sciatica is worse in the evening, better in the morning and aggravated by fatigue. Besides discomfort, sciatica is known to cause numbness in the affected regions of the body, as well as trouble with controlling the leg.
Common non-surgical treatments include over-the-counter pain relievers, prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), hot and cold packs, spinal injections, chiropractic care, physical therapy, and natural remedy supplements.
The goals of non-surgical natural sciatica treatment should include both relief of sciatica pain and prevention of future sciatica symptoms.
The natural treatments of sciatica discussed below are nutritionally balanced solutions that tend to raise overall health. They contain enzymes and many other naturally occurring phyto-nutrients shown to assist reverse and prevent disease generally by optimizing the immune and hormonal systems.
Capra Mineral Whey is 100% natural, mineral-rich, goat's milk whey powder. Goat's milk is the most widely consumed milk in the world and is largely like human milk in its composition. Capra goats are not fed any pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, or growth hormones.
This milk contains more than 20 naturally occurring minerals which would offer benefits to weak and painful joints and would soothe and heal the digestive and intestinal tract. This is also a natural immune system enhancer.
Boron is a really effective treatment for about 95% or more of the relief of arthritis. Its range of action extends to adding calcium into the cartilage and bone and combined with Capra milk is a really useful natural remedy for Sciatica.
Serrapeptase is a naturally occurring physiologic agent which digests inflammation in all forms. It is a viable alternative to salicylates, ibuprophen, and more potent NSAIDS. It is a really good natural treatment for all types of pain including Sciatica.
Zell-Oxygen is a substance that improves the balance of the immune system by assisting cellular communication. This product has many years of clinical use. Its Beta-Glucans strengthen the immune system which assists to eliminate infection which is an essential part of any regenerative program.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Do Not Neglect Sports Injury Warning Signs
Sports injuries are common and expected for those who enjoy an active lifestyle. But according to experts in the sports medicine field, there are warnings signs that you may have an injury that needs attention. While some sports injuries are evident immediately, others could grow progressively worse with time. If both types of injuries are ignored, chronic problems could occur.
Joint pain, particularly in the joints of the knee, ankle, elbow and wrist, should never be ignored. These joints are not covered by muscle and hence pain in these regions is rarely because of muscular strain. If you experience joint pain that lasts more than 48 hours, seek a physician's diagnosis as soon as possible.
If after exercise or sports, you experience pain at a specific point in a bone, muscle or joint when you press a finger into it, you may have a significant injury. If the same spot on the other side of the body does not produce the same tenderness, it would be a good idea to see a doctor.
It's not unusual to have swelling in connection with a sports injury, as nearly all injuries of this type cause swelling. Swelling is usually quite obvious and could be seen easily. Occasionally, however, something may look normal even though it feels swollen. Swelling goes hand-in-hand with pain, redness and heat. When swelling within a joint occurs, you would frequently experience joint pain and stiffness. The injury may also produce a clicking sound as the tendons snap over one another after having been pushed into a new position from the swelling.
While swelling may not be obvious in every injury, it could also be identified by checking for a reduced range of motion in a joint. When there is significant swelling within a joint, an individual would lose range of motion. The limb would only be able to go so far in each direction. If you suspect injury, compare one side of the body with the other to identify any differences; if there are any, you likely have an injury that needs attention.
While comparing one side of the body to the other for weakness or muscle fatigue could frequently be hard to do, it could also be helpful when assessing injury. To test for weakness, lift the same weight with the right and left side and look at the result. Or place body weight on one leg and then the other. A difference in the ability to support your weight is another indicator that an injury may require a physician's attention.
Numbness and tingling should never be ignored. These sensations are frequently related to nerve compression, and these warning signs may indicate serious injury that should always be attended to by a physician.
Treating a Sports Injury
If any of the above warning signs appear after physical activity, your first concern is to prevent any further damage. To do so, stop all activity and begin treatment immediately. It's significant to not the problem acquire any worse or let the swelling continue. Once you could locate the source of the injury, you could begin to remedy the problem.
For any acute injury, the first line of defense to bring down swelling is the R.I.C.E. treatment. Swelling of an injured area causes pain and loss of motion, which in turn would limit the use of the muscles. Muscles that are unused would weaken, shorten and resist repair. The R.I.C.E. treatment calls for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Avoid the use of heat to the injured area as heat would increase circulation and increase swelling.
Step by Step Injury Treatment
1. Stop the activity immediately.
2. Wrap the injury in a compression bandage.
3. Apply ice to the injury for no more than 15 minutes at a time. (Use a bag of crushed ice or a bag of frozen vegetables)
4. In order to avoid frostbite, let the area warm completely before applying ice again
5. Elevate the injured area to bring down swelling.
6. See a physician for proper diagnosis of any serious injury.
Now available for home use to soothe the aches and pains associated with arthritis, psoriasis, tired joints and sore muscles from an active lifestyle. Thousands have benefited from the pain relieving power of these safe, natural, non-prescription treatments.
Joint pain, particularly in the joints of the knee, ankle, elbow and wrist, should never be ignored. These joints are not covered by muscle and hence pain in these regions is rarely because of muscular strain. If you experience joint pain that lasts more than 48 hours, seek a physician's diagnosis as soon as possible.
If after exercise or sports, you experience pain at a specific point in a bone, muscle or joint when you press a finger into it, you may have a significant injury. If the same spot on the other side of the body does not produce the same tenderness, it would be a good idea to see a doctor.
It's not unusual to have swelling in connection with a sports injury, as nearly all injuries of this type cause swelling. Swelling is usually quite obvious and could be seen easily. Occasionally, however, something may look normal even though it feels swollen. Swelling goes hand-in-hand with pain, redness and heat. When swelling within a joint occurs, you would frequently experience joint pain and stiffness. The injury may also produce a clicking sound as the tendons snap over one another after having been pushed into a new position from the swelling.
While swelling may not be obvious in every injury, it could also be identified by checking for a reduced range of motion in a joint. When there is significant swelling within a joint, an individual would lose range of motion. The limb would only be able to go so far in each direction. If you suspect injury, compare one side of the body with the other to identify any differences; if there are any, you likely have an injury that needs attention.
While comparing one side of the body to the other for weakness or muscle fatigue could frequently be hard to do, it could also be helpful when assessing injury. To test for weakness, lift the same weight with the right and left side and look at the result. Or place body weight on one leg and then the other. A difference in the ability to support your weight is another indicator that an injury may require a physician's attention.
Numbness and tingling should never be ignored. These sensations are frequently related to nerve compression, and these warning signs may indicate serious injury that should always be attended to by a physician.
Treating a Sports Injury
If any of the above warning signs appear after physical activity, your first concern is to prevent any further damage. To do so, stop all activity and begin treatment immediately. It's significant to not the problem acquire any worse or let the swelling continue. Once you could locate the source of the injury, you could begin to remedy the problem.
For any acute injury, the first line of defense to bring down swelling is the R.I.C.E. treatment. Swelling of an injured area causes pain and loss of motion, which in turn would limit the use of the muscles. Muscles that are unused would weaken, shorten and resist repair. The R.I.C.E. treatment calls for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Avoid the use of heat to the injured area as heat would increase circulation and increase swelling.
Step by Step Injury Treatment
1. Stop the activity immediately.
2. Wrap the injury in a compression bandage.
3. Apply ice to the injury for no more than 15 minutes at a time. (Use a bag of crushed ice or a bag of frozen vegetables)
4. In order to avoid frostbite, let the area warm completely before applying ice again
5. Elevate the injured area to bring down swelling.
6. See a physician for proper diagnosis of any serious injury.
Now available for home use to soothe the aches and pains associated with arthritis, psoriasis, tired joints and sore muscles from an active lifestyle. Thousands have benefited from the pain relieving power of these safe, natural, non-prescription treatments.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
What Is The Real Cure For Back Pain?
Having suffered from chronic back pain for a number of years I kept asking my doctor is there a cure for back pain? He constantly prescribed pain killers and said just keep mobile. He was treating the symptoms not the root problem.
If your back is injured then you could expect to have back pain for some time afterward; for most people, their only concern is to receive back pain relief medication to dull the pain. While there are a host of prescription medications that assist with pain relief, many are doing nothing more than masking the symptoms instead of tackling the underlying cause of the pain.
Medication should be used sparingly and under the strict supervision of a medical professional. The reason back problems are so common is because it is so easy to injure the spine, large numbers of people have caused permanent damage to their backs just by sitting poorly for long periods.
However, back pain is usually caused by a lifting accident or from lifting incorrectly and it is normally the lower back that suffers. Many people are now turning to other methods of gaining back pain relief which do not include the use of drugs. Stretching could be effective at reducing back as it relaxes the muscles which are frequently tense.
Success at reducing pain and providing relief has also been found by people using reflexology to the feet. It is frequently successful at treating people with long term conditions. Reflexology could also assist to improve the bodies blood circulation and relax muscles.
The traditional Chinese medicine therapy acupuncture is now providing back pain relief with people suffering spinal problems in the West. Acupuncture works by releasing the 'chi' or energy flow that every living thing has. It could become clogged up when sickness is present; using thin needles placed into the body at specific points could free this energy. Whilst acupuncture is used for many conditions, it is frequently used for pain relief and many people claim to have excellent results from using it.
Relief could also come from another Chinese treatment like tai chi which is a form of yoga but not so strenuous. Tai Chi focuses on breathing techniques and is a great way to relax your back. Whilst it involves some stretching and breathing exercises it is not too strenuous which means that anyone, young or old could take part in Tai Chi.
If your back is injured then you could expect to have back pain for some time afterward; for most people, their only concern is to receive back pain relief medication to dull the pain. While there are a host of prescription medications that assist with pain relief, many are doing nothing more than masking the symptoms instead of tackling the underlying cause of the pain.
Medication should be used sparingly and under the strict supervision of a medical professional. The reason back problems are so common is because it is so easy to injure the spine, large numbers of people have caused permanent damage to their backs just by sitting poorly for long periods.
However, back pain is usually caused by a lifting accident or from lifting incorrectly and it is normally the lower back that suffers. Many people are now turning to other methods of gaining back pain relief which do not include the use of drugs. Stretching could be effective at reducing back as it relaxes the muscles which are frequently tense.
Success at reducing pain and providing relief has also been found by people using reflexology to the feet. It is frequently successful at treating people with long term conditions. Reflexology could also assist to improve the bodies blood circulation and relax muscles.
The traditional Chinese medicine therapy acupuncture is now providing back pain relief with people suffering spinal problems in the West. Acupuncture works by releasing the 'chi' or energy flow that every living thing has. It could become clogged up when sickness is present; using thin needles placed into the body at specific points could free this energy. Whilst acupuncture is used for many conditions, it is frequently used for pain relief and many people claim to have excellent results from using it.
Relief could also come from another Chinese treatment like tai chi which is a form of yoga but not so strenuous. Tai Chi focuses on breathing techniques and is a great way to relax your back. Whilst it involves some stretching and breathing exercises it is not too strenuous which means that anyone, young or old could take part in Tai Chi.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Gunning Against The Pain
We have been doing exceedingly well as people who have found wisdom in money. Money and disposable income has certainly flourished but so too have some diseases. We are not able to look after ourselves all too well. This is due to many factors. Life has become hectic; we frequently do not check time for completing our daily chores hence even a light exercise goes out of basket. We eat poorly, live poorly, and indulge madly. This creates much weakening of body structure with time because even the body waits for proper balanced nutrition. The muscles weaken, the bones acquire softer. Life goes rocking past out of them. What comes in is a variety of pain.
Body Pain has so much become a part of our existence that we madly keep running to some healers. Few of them are
Acupuncturists- They preside over the age old science of providing pin point pressure for relieving pain
Chiropractors -They work on the spine to alleviate back spasm, headache and hypertension
Physiotherapists- They take on the body in general or even in a segregate way to minimize pains persisting in some organs
Massage therapists- They heal the pain with massage. This deals with stimulating the muscles, relaxing, and warming them. This leads to a feeling of sauna to the muscles.
Health professionals- They take us to many health spa and massage therapies to heal the pain. The elite class has their personal health professionals.
Light emitting diode or LED is considered by many as a novel way to combat pain and offer relief. They penetrate deep inside the paining tissues and stimulate the cells around for greater and faster relief. The adjoining muscles acquire all worked up and feel more relaxed. The light emitting diodes are formatted for surface area operations, profound tissue penetration, and executions on the acupuncture points. They generally have a 'solid' and a 'pulse' setting for modest pain relief and chronic pain healing respectively.
Light Shaker is a new tool of light therapy to hit the market. It works on the principle of light emitting diodes for freeing the body of pain. It is portable and has a single LED with solid, continuous and pulse settings. They cater from mild to really severe pains. It has a 9- volt battery which gives a 20 hour output. It is considered good for acupuncture points, surface healing, and deep penetration. Its portability makes it an easy company. It is further safe for using on juveniles.
All such units of phototherapy comprise of an instruction booklet, operation manual, and diverse literature on the subject. The erudite could have a look at the rich literature on LED. It also comes with a battery tester and power adapter. Manuals are also available in Spanish and French. It is user-friendly and could be self-administered.
Body Pain has so much become a part of our existence that we madly keep running to some healers. Few of them are
Acupuncturists- They preside over the age old science of providing pin point pressure for relieving pain
Chiropractors -They work on the spine to alleviate back spasm, headache and hypertension
Physiotherapists- They take on the body in general or even in a segregate way to minimize pains persisting in some organs
Massage therapists- They heal the pain with massage. This deals with stimulating the muscles, relaxing, and warming them. This leads to a feeling of sauna to the muscles.
Health professionals- They take us to many health spa and massage therapies to heal the pain. The elite class has their personal health professionals.
Light emitting diode or LED is considered by many as a novel way to combat pain and offer relief. They penetrate deep inside the paining tissues and stimulate the cells around for greater and faster relief. The adjoining muscles acquire all worked up and feel more relaxed. The light emitting diodes are formatted for surface area operations, profound tissue penetration, and executions on the acupuncture points. They generally have a 'solid' and a 'pulse' setting for modest pain relief and chronic pain healing respectively.
Light Shaker is a new tool of light therapy to hit the market. It works on the principle of light emitting diodes for freeing the body of pain. It is portable and has a single LED with solid, continuous and pulse settings. They cater from mild to really severe pains. It has a 9- volt battery which gives a 20 hour output. It is considered good for acupuncture points, surface healing, and deep penetration. Its portability makes it an easy company. It is further safe for using on juveniles.
All such units of phototherapy comprise of an instruction booklet, operation manual, and diverse literature on the subject. The erudite could have a look at the rich literature on LED. It also comes with a battery tester and power adapter. Manuals are also available in Spanish and French. It is user-friendly and could be self-administered.
Alleviate Back Pain With Spinal Decompressing Therapy
The Mayo Clinic reports that four out of five people in the United States would have low back pain at least once in their lifetime.
Back pain is a really common complaint. It is one of the most common causes for people to miss work or make a trip to the doctor's office.
There is a bright side. Almost all back pain problems are preventable and in treating back pain surgery is rarely needed.
For example, spinal decompression therapy is an effective, safe and non-surgical way to alleviate chronic low back and neck pain.
Causes of back pain
There are several things that could develop that cause back pain to occur or reoccur.
If you acquire to know a little bit more about your back, its components and how they function it might be easier to diagnose what's causing your particular back pain. Once you figure out what's causing your back pain then you would be in a position to take the best course of action on a treatment plan that's best for you.
Muscle spasms could be one cause of severe back pain but most frequently back pain occurs from strained muscles and ligaments. Improper form or lifting heavier than normal weights or quick unnatural movements are among the most frequent causes.
Understanding discs, sciatica and stenosis
The discs in your back serve as cushioning between the verterbrae in your spine. Even though some people who have bulging herniated discs suffer no pain whatsoever there are situations when the soft matter within the disc may burst and push on a nerve. This is what causes the pain.
Sciatica pain results from irritation of the sciatic nerve. The irritation is caused by several factors including infection or injury. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in our body and it starts at the nerve roots in the lumbar spinal cord in the low back. When the sciatic nerve has inflammation or has been irritated it produces symptoms of sciatica. But sciatica is most commonly a result of a bulging or herniated disk pressing directly on the nerve. Symptoms include numbness, tingling and intense sharp shooting pain traveling down from the lower back area and going down to the back of the thigh to the back of the leg.
The joints most commonly affected by osteoarthritis otherwise known as degenerative joint disease are hips, hands, knees and the lower back. In some cases arthritis in the spine could result to a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord, a condition called spinal stenosis. This narrowing could have an effect on one or more areas of the spine and put pressure on the spinal cord or on the nerves that branch out from the compressed areas.
Spinal stenosis symptoms include pain, cramping or numbness in legs, back, neck, shoulders or arms along with loss of sensation in extremities occurring repeatedly and occasionally problems with bladder or bowel functions. Spinal stenosis is most commonly caused by osteoarthritis-related bone damage. Mild symptoms of spinal stenosis are frequently aided by pain relievers, physical therapy or a supportive brace.
Spinal decompression therapy
Spinal decompression therapy is a slow and therapeutic elongation of the spine which alleviates pressure on compressed vertebrae and discs. During the spinal decompression therapy the patient lies on the spinal decompression table and relaxes while the device applies forces to decompress the injured areas. When required, it comes with a safety switch that allows the patient to immediately stop the decompression forces.
Check with your doctor to check out if spinal decompression therapy is right for you.
Back pain is a really common complaint. It is one of the most common causes for people to miss work or make a trip to the doctor's office.
There is a bright side. Almost all back pain problems are preventable and in treating back pain surgery is rarely needed.
For example, spinal decompression therapy is an effective, safe and non-surgical way to alleviate chronic low back and neck pain.
Causes of back pain
There are several things that could develop that cause back pain to occur or reoccur.
If you acquire to know a little bit more about your back, its components and how they function it might be easier to diagnose what's causing your particular back pain. Once you figure out what's causing your back pain then you would be in a position to take the best course of action on a treatment plan that's best for you.
Muscle spasms could be one cause of severe back pain but most frequently back pain occurs from strained muscles and ligaments. Improper form or lifting heavier than normal weights or quick unnatural movements are among the most frequent causes.
Understanding discs, sciatica and stenosis
The discs in your back serve as cushioning between the verterbrae in your spine. Even though some people who have bulging herniated discs suffer no pain whatsoever there are situations when the soft matter within the disc may burst and push on a nerve. This is what causes the pain.
Sciatica pain results from irritation of the sciatic nerve. The irritation is caused by several factors including infection or injury. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in our body and it starts at the nerve roots in the lumbar spinal cord in the low back. When the sciatic nerve has inflammation or has been irritated it produces symptoms of sciatica. But sciatica is most commonly a result of a bulging or herniated disk pressing directly on the nerve. Symptoms include numbness, tingling and intense sharp shooting pain traveling down from the lower back area and going down to the back of the thigh to the back of the leg.
The joints most commonly affected by osteoarthritis otherwise known as degenerative joint disease are hips, hands, knees and the lower back. In some cases arthritis in the spine could result to a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord, a condition called spinal stenosis. This narrowing could have an effect on one or more areas of the spine and put pressure on the spinal cord or on the nerves that branch out from the compressed areas.
Spinal stenosis symptoms include pain, cramping or numbness in legs, back, neck, shoulders or arms along with loss of sensation in extremities occurring repeatedly and occasionally problems with bladder or bowel functions. Spinal stenosis is most commonly caused by osteoarthritis-related bone damage. Mild symptoms of spinal stenosis are frequently aided by pain relievers, physical therapy or a supportive brace.
Spinal decompression therapy
Spinal decompression therapy is a slow and therapeutic elongation of the spine which alleviates pressure on compressed vertebrae and discs. During the spinal decompression therapy the patient lies on the spinal decompression table and relaxes while the device applies forces to decompress the injured areas. When required, it comes with a safety switch that allows the patient to immediately stop the decompression forces.
Check with your doctor to check out if spinal decompression therapy is right for you.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Lower Back Pain - Symptoms Often Observed
It is not really easy to discover what really causes lower back pain as so many factors may produce this type of affection. Sometimes, lower back pain may appear suddenly and is generally situated anywhere near the waist. A lower back pain might be occasional or chronic: chronic means that you would suffer from this affection for your lifetime, but with lull periods, fortunately.
Recent studies show that nowadays, a high percentage of people is suffering from this disease.
Scientists have observed that the most frequent causes of lower back pain could be the simple consequences of everyday life bad habits like bad sitting positions, twisting or bending improperly, hard work where people have to lift heavy objects all day long, or simply the fact that you spend too much hours in front of a computer with a desk chair which is incorrectly adjusted to your height.
These movements are only a few among many other examples of lower back pain causes. Pay special attention to the symptoms you could experience, otherwise already existing back pain may eventually acquire worse if you do not take care of them.
If you see a doctor, describe the way you feel as much precisely as possible. He would certainly make you standing straight up, evaluating the way you are able to bend backward and forward; he would observe and notice all details in your posture that look incorrect to make his diagnosis. Then, he would do a meticulous and attentive tactual exploration of your spine. Imaging studies would be recommended in order to detect any position problem affecting one or many vertebrae. Another eventualities producing suffering are arthritis, tumors or sometimes when nerve roots become too much restricted in the channels containing the spinal chord, as a result of fractures for instance.
In conclusion, you must know that in most cases, back pain is closely related to the way we move and interact with the world around us. So, if we prefer to bring down our chances of being affected by back pain, let's change the way we move; remember that the first step to prevent back pain is to correct our posture more, so that the vertebrae in our spine have less pressure put on them.
Recent studies show that nowadays, a high percentage of people is suffering from this disease.
Scientists have observed that the most frequent causes of lower back pain could be the simple consequences of everyday life bad habits like bad sitting positions, twisting or bending improperly, hard work where people have to lift heavy objects all day long, or simply the fact that you spend too much hours in front of a computer with a desk chair which is incorrectly adjusted to your height.
These movements are only a few among many other examples of lower back pain causes. Pay special attention to the symptoms you could experience, otherwise already existing back pain may eventually acquire worse if you do not take care of them.
If you see a doctor, describe the way you feel as much precisely as possible. He would certainly make you standing straight up, evaluating the way you are able to bend backward and forward; he would observe and notice all details in your posture that look incorrect to make his diagnosis. Then, he would do a meticulous and attentive tactual exploration of your spine. Imaging studies would be recommended in order to detect any position problem affecting one or many vertebrae. Another eventualities producing suffering are arthritis, tumors or sometimes when nerve roots become too much restricted in the channels containing the spinal chord, as a result of fractures for instance.
In conclusion, you must know that in most cases, back pain is closely related to the way we move and interact with the world around us. So, if we prefer to bring down our chances of being affected by back pain, let's change the way we move; remember that the first step to prevent back pain is to correct our posture more, so that the vertebrae in our spine have less pressure put on them.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The Significance Of Ergonomics
80% of the population suffer some sort of back pain. Recent figures for reported injuries in office-based industries show that 44% of all reported strains and sprains which required more than three days off work were of the back of spine. Most commonly, the case of the problem is related to discs in the back being compressed .Maintaining a position in sitting (especially for a prolonged period) combined with leaning forward increases the compression of the discs and the risk of back pain. Bad seating has been shown to speed up disk degeneration. As more people became chair bound (75% of the working population) and less active, abdominal and trunk mussels slacken, further increasing the instability of the spine and the risk of back pain.
Medical requirements: A tilting seat which allows for a change of position whilst the spine continues to be fully supported in a well-formed supportive back rest. This back needs to be adjustable so it could be fixed at the ideal height and angle for any shape or size of user.
The seat pad should be shaped such as the body is held securely in a relaxed position (avoiding slipping forward). In order to support any length of thigh satisfactorily the seat pad also needs to have the option of being adjustable in depth. Armrests have also been found to bring down pressure on the discs, but they need to be available in a variety of heights and shapes to access any desk.
User requirements: As work stations are frequently shared by different members of staff, it is significant that the chair is easily adjustable to a variety of preferred working positions
I personally suffer from degeneration of the lower 5 discs and wish I had this information before the problem got to its present state. Not only for the pain of sciatica but also for the hours of work lost, I purchased my chair and have found the benefits astounding.
I still acquire up and walk around the office every so frequently as advised but not as much as I had to before, as I work for myself, every minute gained is more cash in my pocket and at the end of the day that's what it's all about I hear you say . Well no its not , my quality of life has improved as well and that's more significant. If there is one small bit of advice I could give you, it is to look after your back at work and play, when it goes you would wish you had.
Medical requirements: A tilting seat which allows for a change of position whilst the spine continues to be fully supported in a well-formed supportive back rest. This back needs to be adjustable so it could be fixed at the ideal height and angle for any shape or size of user.
The seat pad should be shaped such as the body is held securely in a relaxed position (avoiding slipping forward). In order to support any length of thigh satisfactorily the seat pad also needs to have the option of being adjustable in depth. Armrests have also been found to bring down pressure on the discs, but they need to be available in a variety of heights and shapes to access any desk.
User requirements: As work stations are frequently shared by different members of staff, it is significant that the chair is easily adjustable to a variety of preferred working positions
I personally suffer from degeneration of the lower 5 discs and wish I had this information before the problem got to its present state. Not only for the pain of sciatica but also for the hours of work lost, I purchased my chair and have found the benefits astounding.
I still acquire up and walk around the office every so frequently as advised but not as much as I had to before, as I work for myself, every minute gained is more cash in my pocket and at the end of the day that's what it's all about I hear you say . Well no its not , my quality of life has improved as well and that's more significant. If there is one small bit of advice I could give you, it is to look after your back at work and play, when it goes you would wish you had.
Who Else Prefers To Know Why You Need To Learn Back Pain Exercises?
Most people in this modern society cannot avoid some type of back pain. It could be coming from an injury or just stressed muscles from overdoing some movements. Because of this, you should prepare yourself with a back pain exercise or two to assist relief the pain in order to acquire back into your normal condition. The one thing you prefer to avoid is to take it easy and lay yourself in bed or in your favorite sofa in front of the television because you could acquire additional pain due to stiffness in the joints, ligaments, muscles, spine and other tissues.
Why You Should Exercise
The main reason for engaging back pain exercise is not limited to avoid stiffness, as mentioned above, but also for health reasons. You see, whenever you do controlled back exercises, this activity dispenses the minerals and vitamins and other nutritional components to the disc area between the vertebrae as well as the tissue covering the spinal area. It also increases the oxygenated blood flow in these painful areas to promote healing and repair problems in the vicinity.
Each person would have different needs of exercise. It would be the severity of your pain that determines which back pain exercise you should try. For example, if you do not pick up heavy things with your knees bend, you could hurt your lower back area. While in another instance, you may aggravate your upper back by moving wrongly during gardening, house keeping or some sports activity. In case of lower back pain, you need to do an upper back pain exercise, that could coincidentally aggravate a lower back injury and vice versa.
The Right Exercises For A Strong And Healthy Back
Stretching exercises should be in the head of all proper back pain exercise routines. Especially those that target the muscle group that connect the upper back thigh area to the base of the spine , certain muscle groups that support the back like the hamstring, the glutes and the front part of the lower spine area. It is especially significant to maintain the stretching back pain exercises to avoid stiffness when you have acute pain (pain that is not severe or chronic).
It is significant to have methods to extend your spine and ease the ache between the discs in a back pain exercise you choose. Spine extensions are one of those exercises, while others may assist you check the right resting position for your spine that you could retrain your muscles to check it during stressful times. Also, low impact aerobics are a great back pain exercise and include such activities as walking, swimming, bicycling and elliptical training. Exercises that use slow controlled movements like yoga, tai chi and any other alike exercise, could serve you as an effective back pain exercise as well.
Why You Should Exercise
The main reason for engaging back pain exercise is not limited to avoid stiffness, as mentioned above, but also for health reasons. You see, whenever you do controlled back exercises, this activity dispenses the minerals and vitamins and other nutritional components to the disc area between the vertebrae as well as the tissue covering the spinal area. It also increases the oxygenated blood flow in these painful areas to promote healing and repair problems in the vicinity.
Each person would have different needs of exercise. It would be the severity of your pain that determines which back pain exercise you should try. For example, if you do not pick up heavy things with your knees bend, you could hurt your lower back area. While in another instance, you may aggravate your upper back by moving wrongly during gardening, house keeping or some sports activity. In case of lower back pain, you need to do an upper back pain exercise, that could coincidentally aggravate a lower back injury and vice versa.
The Right Exercises For A Strong And Healthy Back
Stretching exercises should be in the head of all proper back pain exercise routines. Especially those that target the muscle group that connect the upper back thigh area to the base of the spine , certain muscle groups that support the back like the hamstring, the glutes and the front part of the lower spine area. It is especially significant to maintain the stretching back pain exercises to avoid stiffness when you have acute pain (pain that is not severe or chronic).
It is significant to have methods to extend your spine and ease the ache between the discs in a back pain exercise you choose. Spine extensions are one of those exercises, while others may assist you check the right resting position for your spine that you could retrain your muscles to check it during stressful times. Also, low impact aerobics are a great back pain exercise and include such activities as walking, swimming, bicycling and elliptical training. Exercises that use slow controlled movements like yoga, tai chi and any other alike exercise, could serve you as an effective back pain exercise as well.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Pain Relief - How To Assure That You Have Fibromyalgia? Nurse's Guide
Years ago, after much suffering, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Even though I was a nurse, I suffered along with everyone else I knew who'd been diagnosed with it and sought some natural methods of pain relief. But through a sheer stroke of luck I cured myself! I no longer suffer from fibromyalgia and many years have passed now.
Fibromyalgia, also called fibromyositis and fibrositis, is a condition which causes long-term pain throughout the body and in the tender points (not trigger points) in joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. Sufferers also could have fatigue, morning stiffness, sleep problems, headaches, numbness in the hands and feet, depression, and anxiety, which may or may not be due to all the symptoms they have.
Fibromyalgia could also coexist with other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
Although the cause of this disorder is unknown there are all sorts of expert guesses as to the cause including physical or emotional trauma that may play a part in the development and abnormal pain transmission responses.
It's been theorized that sleep disturbances, which are common in fibromyalgia patients, may actually cause the condition or that maybe the cause is waking patients up. In my case I would wake up for two hours between 2 A.M. and 4 A.M. every night and be wide awake.
This disturbance wreaked havoc with my daily activities because I do not think my endorphins were acquiring released properly. The endorphin release to repair the body and initiate healing happens around 2 A.M.
Another one of the theories is that the disorder may occur with changes in skeletal muscle metabolism, which might be caused by a diminished blood flow causing chronic fatigue and weakness alike to chronic fatigue syndrome.
Others experts have guessed that it might be a virus that has initiated fibromyalgia or even that it's inherited. But I do not believe any of that.
Although women and men have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia it's more common among women especially in the 20 through 50 years old age group.
Fibromyalgia pain could sometimes be confused with arthritic pain. But it doesn't have the deformity of joints as seen in arthritis.
The pain could be described best as deep-aching pain, like mine was, or radiating, burning or shooting pain and could be severe at times. The pain could be present during the night when one wakes up or throughout the day to some degrees. This pain could drive people to check all sorts of methods, treatments and therapies to try to acquire pain relief usually with no pain relief.
Pain could acquire better or worse throughout the day. As well as mild generalized pain through the body I noticed severe pain in specific areas like my quadriceps muscle that I used while driving making long distance driving impossible. My upper arm would ache so bad that I thought I would keel over.
People complain of back pain, lower back pain, chest pain, muscle pain, joint pain etc. And usually try pain medications and some other pain pills which do not work.
Your doctor could diagnose fibromyalgia by pressing on your tender points.
The doctor would prefer to know how long you have been enduring the widespread pain and/or pain and tenderness in 11or more of the 18 tender points. If it's been more than three months it would be considered chronic and would assist make the diagnosis. The tender points are located in fibrous tissue or muscles of the neck, shoulder, rib cage, chest, thighs, knees, lower back, arms and buttocks.
When the doctor presses on these points they may or may not hurt. So it's fairly easy to diagnose except the doctor has to determine if there are any other disease present that is causing your pain. So he/she may do some other tests to rule out infections, thyroid problems, rheumatoid arthritis, sleep disorders, cancer and other conditions.
Besides sleeping problems, muscle aches or joint aches or general body aching and fatigue, there could be facial muscle pain or aching. And a reduction in exercise is common. I found it difficult to walk more than 20 minutes at a time without severe aching and fatigue.
Fibromyalgia has been a common problem for many years. In some pain sufferers the symptoms may acquire better then return out of the blue.
I suffered with fibromyalgia along with arthritis and many other ailments and sought pain relief until I changed my diet due to breast cancer, which I cured naturally. Changing my diet was the key to acquiring rid of fibromyalgia and many years later I still no longer suffer from it.
Fibromyalgia, also called fibromyositis and fibrositis, is a condition which causes long-term pain throughout the body and in the tender points (not trigger points) in joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. Sufferers also could have fatigue, morning stiffness, sleep problems, headaches, numbness in the hands and feet, depression, and anxiety, which may or may not be due to all the symptoms they have.
Fibromyalgia could also coexist with other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
Although the cause of this disorder is unknown there are all sorts of expert guesses as to the cause including physical or emotional trauma that may play a part in the development and abnormal pain transmission responses.
It's been theorized that sleep disturbances, which are common in fibromyalgia patients, may actually cause the condition or that maybe the cause is waking patients up. In my case I would wake up for two hours between 2 A.M. and 4 A.M. every night and be wide awake.
This disturbance wreaked havoc with my daily activities because I do not think my endorphins were acquiring released properly. The endorphin release to repair the body and initiate healing happens around 2 A.M.
Another one of the theories is that the disorder may occur with changes in skeletal muscle metabolism, which might be caused by a diminished blood flow causing chronic fatigue and weakness alike to chronic fatigue syndrome.
Others experts have guessed that it might be a virus that has initiated fibromyalgia or even that it's inherited. But I do not believe any of that.
Although women and men have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia it's more common among women especially in the 20 through 50 years old age group.
Fibromyalgia pain could sometimes be confused with arthritic pain. But it doesn't have the deformity of joints as seen in arthritis.
The pain could be described best as deep-aching pain, like mine was, or radiating, burning or shooting pain and could be severe at times. The pain could be present during the night when one wakes up or throughout the day to some degrees. This pain could drive people to check all sorts of methods, treatments and therapies to try to acquire pain relief usually with no pain relief.
Pain could acquire better or worse throughout the day. As well as mild generalized pain through the body I noticed severe pain in specific areas like my quadriceps muscle that I used while driving making long distance driving impossible. My upper arm would ache so bad that I thought I would keel over.
People complain of back pain, lower back pain, chest pain, muscle pain, joint pain etc. And usually try pain medications and some other pain pills which do not work.
Your doctor could diagnose fibromyalgia by pressing on your tender points.
The doctor would prefer to know how long you have been enduring the widespread pain and/or pain and tenderness in 11or more of the 18 tender points. If it's been more than three months it would be considered chronic and would assist make the diagnosis. The tender points are located in fibrous tissue or muscles of the neck, shoulder, rib cage, chest, thighs, knees, lower back, arms and buttocks.
When the doctor presses on these points they may or may not hurt. So it's fairly easy to diagnose except the doctor has to determine if there are any other disease present that is causing your pain. So he/she may do some other tests to rule out infections, thyroid problems, rheumatoid arthritis, sleep disorders, cancer and other conditions.
Besides sleeping problems, muscle aches or joint aches or general body aching and fatigue, there could be facial muscle pain or aching. And a reduction in exercise is common. I found it difficult to walk more than 20 minutes at a time without severe aching and fatigue.
Fibromyalgia has been a common problem for many years. In some pain sufferers the symptoms may acquire better then return out of the blue.
I suffered with fibromyalgia along with arthritis and many other ailments and sought pain relief until I changed my diet due to breast cancer, which I cured naturally. Changing my diet was the key to acquiring rid of fibromyalgia and many years later I still no longer suffer from it.
Back Pain And Visualisation
Also known as guided imagery, you could direct your dreams. Think of a peaceful, beautiful setting - its nice isn't it. With Yoga Nidra, the idea is to tune into your body (and your mind). The colour emerald green is considered the most relaxing colour. The emerald green concept is really much part of the Yoga Nidra technique. Using visionary guidance centred on your body and its organs, Yoga Nidra lets you stay with a vision for several minutes, with the wonderful emerald green colour, until you feel your mind and body relax. With the assist of the audio file, you could practice visualization to guide you into a deep relaxing state.
As well as back pain, the practice of yoga during pregnancy is perhaps the most helpful exercise a woman with child could undertake. It is slow, strong and gentle. It prepares the woman's body and breath to open as it would need to open during labour and childbirth. Yogic techniques of breath, movement, sound, and visualization offer a confident basis for smooth passage through this most powerful of life experiences.
With back pain, labour and delivery are unknowns. No predictions could be made by anyone as to the type or length of labour. Pregnant women who practice yoga develop confidence in their body movements and become more comfortable with the unpredictability of labour and delivery. They know that staying in the moment would propel them forward, releasing any resistance to the unknown. Students of mine have actually gone on to do their own movements during labour. Yoga is about the individual, not about attaining perfect postures. Any movement that brings in focus and relaxation is yoga. This concept is especially significant during labour because the demand is for the woman to follow her breath and intuition in regard to labour and movement.
For Yoga Nidra, hypnosis is a trancelike state of deep relaxation while your mind stays restfully alert and open to suggestion. Ordinarily it also involves deep breathing and visualization. With Yoga Nidra, use is made of a powerful yet really subtle mantra. This is the background mantra sung in a purely relaxed way on the audio file. The fear people might have about hypnosis comes from its being used on the commercial stage, says Jahnke. And of someone else controlling your mind. Visualise being free of back pain.
Beginners, at any level of health and fitness, could practice yoga. Be kind to yourself. Take it slow and watch your progress. You would be amazed at your improvements. Yoga is a preventive medicine that is an investment in your future health.
In India it used to be said (and perhaps still is) that the mother could sense the baby's sex by the third month of pregnancy. The practice of yoga encourages the mother to trust her intuitions, to acknowledge and release her fears, to express through her body what words cannot say. She may, during moments of deep relaxation after an invigorating yoga session feel her baby communicate with her, reassure her, share the untold bliss that only a fully-supported being in an edgeless womb of a universe could experience - with her. For even proverbial love is a two-way street.
As well as back pain, the practice of yoga during pregnancy is perhaps the most helpful exercise a woman with child could undertake. It is slow, strong and gentle. It prepares the woman's body and breath to open as it would need to open during labour and childbirth. Yogic techniques of breath, movement, sound, and visualization offer a confident basis for smooth passage through this most powerful of life experiences.
With back pain, labour and delivery are unknowns. No predictions could be made by anyone as to the type or length of labour. Pregnant women who practice yoga develop confidence in their body movements and become more comfortable with the unpredictability of labour and delivery. They know that staying in the moment would propel them forward, releasing any resistance to the unknown. Students of mine have actually gone on to do their own movements during labour. Yoga is about the individual, not about attaining perfect postures. Any movement that brings in focus and relaxation is yoga. This concept is especially significant during labour because the demand is for the woman to follow her breath and intuition in regard to labour and movement.
For Yoga Nidra, hypnosis is a trancelike state of deep relaxation while your mind stays restfully alert and open to suggestion. Ordinarily it also involves deep breathing and visualization. With Yoga Nidra, use is made of a powerful yet really subtle mantra. This is the background mantra sung in a purely relaxed way on the audio file. The fear people might have about hypnosis comes from its being used on the commercial stage, says Jahnke. And of someone else controlling your mind. Visualise being free of back pain.
Beginners, at any level of health and fitness, could practice yoga. Be kind to yourself. Take it slow and watch your progress. You would be amazed at your improvements. Yoga is a preventive medicine that is an investment in your future health.
In India it used to be said (and perhaps still is) that the mother could sense the baby's sex by the third month of pregnancy. The practice of yoga encourages the mother to trust her intuitions, to acknowledge and release her fears, to express through her body what words cannot say. She may, during moments of deep relaxation after an invigorating yoga session feel her baby communicate with her, reassure her, share the untold bliss that only a fully-supported being in an edgeless womb of a universe could experience - with her. For even proverbial love is a two-way street.
Bulging Discs - C4 C5
A C4 C5 bulging disc could be a really stubborn health condition to correct. This article would discuss what a C4 C5 bulging disc is, what causes it, common symptoms associated with it, as well as the most common treatment options available for your condition.
In order to understand what a bulging disc is, we must first understand what a spinal disc is, how it's put together, and what it does.
The discs of the spine are special types of ligaments that are found between each set of vertebrae (bones of the spine). Their purpose is to hold the spine together, and to act as a cushion or shock absorber with movement.
Each disc of the spine is made up of a firm outer covering (called the annulus), and a jelly center (called the nucleus). They almost look like jelly doughnuts.
If something occurs to damage the annulus (the outer covering of the disc), the jelly could begin to shift to the weak area, which causes the disc to bulge. This is why this condition is referred to as a bulging disc. You may also hear it referred to as a herniated disc, slipped disc, etc.
What's interesting about the disc is that it doesn't have the ability to feel pain sensations. I realize this sounds a bit odd, but think about it - if the main purpose of the spinal discs is to absorb shock from movement, wouldn't it be wise if we didn't feel them? I do not know about you, but I am thankful I do not feel pain with every movement I make.
At this point, you are probably wondering why a C4 C5 bulging disc could be so painful if it doesn't feel pain. The reason is because of where the bulge usually occurs. The disc usually bulges at the back of the disc, which is right next to the spinal cord and nerves of the spine.
The nerves of the spine control everything in the body. If there is any pressure applied to them, they become really aggravated and could cause incredible pain.
Even more significant, though, is the disability that could occur because of the pressure on these nerves. For example, a C4 C5 bulging disc would affect the nerves that control the arms, hands, shoulders, neck, head, chest, eyes, ears, and many other parts of the body.
Because of this, it is really common for a person with this condition to experience other symptoms besides neck pain. Symptoms like pain, burning, weakness, or numbness in the shoulder, arm or hand, blurred vision, headaches, ringing in the ears, chest pain, difficulty breathing, etc.
The cause of a C4 C5 bulging disc is different for everyone, but in general, the most common cause is some type of injury or trauma. Car accidents, falls, sports injuries, etc. are all common causes of a bulging disc.
Although this might be the case for most, a bulging disc could also occur from deterioration that occurs in the disc over time. As we use our spine (which is pretty much all the time), the discs could deteriorate due to normal wear and tear. This creates a weakness in the outer layer of the disc, which could also lead to a bulging disc over time.
Let's discuss some of the most common treatment options available for healing a C4 C5 bulging disc. Most doctors would recommend medications (usually a combination of pain relievers and muscle relaxers), pain injections (like cortisone or epidurals), physical therapy, and surgery (as a last resort).
Although these treatments would frequently offer relief, it is significant to realize that they do not generally offer long-term results. This is because most of these treatments are designed to numb the involved nerves (which offers relief), but they do not actually address the cause of the problem, which is the injured disc.
I have actually found that a combination of treatments is most effective for this condition, and there are about 30 steps a person needs to take in order to assist the disc heal completely, which offers lasting relief.
Let's discuss just 3 things you could do at home right now to start the healing process.
First, I would recommend that you use ice on your neck if you are experiencing pain. Ice is usually the fastest way to experience relief, and although this sounds pretty simple, I cannot tell you the number of times I have had people tell me they use heat with this condition.
Heat is really one of the worst things you could do if you are experiencing pain, because the body is going through an inflammatory process, which is where the body would send blood to the injured area to try and fix it. This would cause swelling and excessive heat in the area, so what do you think would happen if you apply heat to it? That's right - it would acquire more inflamed and aggravated.
Apply the ice over the middle of the back of your neck for 15 minutes or until the area becomes numb. Then repeat this every hour. If you do this consistently, you should start to notice some improvement in the pain levels within 3 to 4 treatments, and it should calm down considerably in about 3 days.
The second tip I would recommend is that you watch the way you are sleeping. be sure you are only using one pillow, and that you are not sleeping on your stomach. Sleeping with extra pillows under your head would cause the neck to bend excessively which puts a lot of strain on the discs of the neck. Sleeping on your stomach forces you to turn your head to the side, and this excessive rotation could also be hard on the disc.
Finally, I would recommend that you bounce on a therapy ball. Therapy balls are those large balls you see at health clubs. Simply sit on the ball and bounce gently up and down for about 5 minutes every day. This would pump the discs of the spine (even in the neck), which pumps new oxygen and nutrition into the disc for faster healing.
In order to understand what a bulging disc is, we must first understand what a spinal disc is, how it's put together, and what it does.
The discs of the spine are special types of ligaments that are found between each set of vertebrae (bones of the spine). Their purpose is to hold the spine together, and to act as a cushion or shock absorber with movement.
Each disc of the spine is made up of a firm outer covering (called the annulus), and a jelly center (called the nucleus). They almost look like jelly doughnuts.
If something occurs to damage the annulus (the outer covering of the disc), the jelly could begin to shift to the weak area, which causes the disc to bulge. This is why this condition is referred to as a bulging disc. You may also hear it referred to as a herniated disc, slipped disc, etc.
What's interesting about the disc is that it doesn't have the ability to feel pain sensations. I realize this sounds a bit odd, but think about it - if the main purpose of the spinal discs is to absorb shock from movement, wouldn't it be wise if we didn't feel them? I do not know about you, but I am thankful I do not feel pain with every movement I make.
At this point, you are probably wondering why a C4 C5 bulging disc could be so painful if it doesn't feel pain. The reason is because of where the bulge usually occurs. The disc usually bulges at the back of the disc, which is right next to the spinal cord and nerves of the spine.
The nerves of the spine control everything in the body. If there is any pressure applied to them, they become really aggravated and could cause incredible pain.
Even more significant, though, is the disability that could occur because of the pressure on these nerves. For example, a C4 C5 bulging disc would affect the nerves that control the arms, hands, shoulders, neck, head, chest, eyes, ears, and many other parts of the body.
Because of this, it is really common for a person with this condition to experience other symptoms besides neck pain. Symptoms like pain, burning, weakness, or numbness in the shoulder, arm or hand, blurred vision, headaches, ringing in the ears, chest pain, difficulty breathing, etc.
The cause of a C4 C5 bulging disc is different for everyone, but in general, the most common cause is some type of injury or trauma. Car accidents, falls, sports injuries, etc. are all common causes of a bulging disc.
Although this might be the case for most, a bulging disc could also occur from deterioration that occurs in the disc over time. As we use our spine (which is pretty much all the time), the discs could deteriorate due to normal wear and tear. This creates a weakness in the outer layer of the disc, which could also lead to a bulging disc over time.
Let's discuss some of the most common treatment options available for healing a C4 C5 bulging disc. Most doctors would recommend medications (usually a combination of pain relievers and muscle relaxers), pain injections (like cortisone or epidurals), physical therapy, and surgery (as a last resort).
Although these treatments would frequently offer relief, it is significant to realize that they do not generally offer long-term results. This is because most of these treatments are designed to numb the involved nerves (which offers relief), but they do not actually address the cause of the problem, which is the injured disc.
I have actually found that a combination of treatments is most effective for this condition, and there are about 30 steps a person needs to take in order to assist the disc heal completely, which offers lasting relief.
Let's discuss just 3 things you could do at home right now to start the healing process.
First, I would recommend that you use ice on your neck if you are experiencing pain. Ice is usually the fastest way to experience relief, and although this sounds pretty simple, I cannot tell you the number of times I have had people tell me they use heat with this condition.
Heat is really one of the worst things you could do if you are experiencing pain, because the body is going through an inflammatory process, which is where the body would send blood to the injured area to try and fix it. This would cause swelling and excessive heat in the area, so what do you think would happen if you apply heat to it? That's right - it would acquire more inflamed and aggravated.
Apply the ice over the middle of the back of your neck for 15 minutes or until the area becomes numb. Then repeat this every hour. If you do this consistently, you should start to notice some improvement in the pain levels within 3 to 4 treatments, and it should calm down considerably in about 3 days.
The second tip I would recommend is that you watch the way you are sleeping. be sure you are only using one pillow, and that you are not sleeping on your stomach. Sleeping with extra pillows under your head would cause the neck to bend excessively which puts a lot of strain on the discs of the neck. Sleeping on your stomach forces you to turn your head to the side, and this excessive rotation could also be hard on the disc.
Finally, I would recommend that you bounce on a therapy ball. Therapy balls are those large balls you see at health clubs. Simply sit on the ball and bounce gently up and down for about 5 minutes every day. This would pump the discs of the spine (even in the neck), which pumps new oxygen and nutrition into the disc for faster healing.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Morning Back Pain - How To Stop It
For many people, morning back pain is an every day thing. They start every morning with the painful burning of acquiring out of bed.
Many have been to doctors looking for assist. Others have tried new mattresses and pads. Some even try to fall asleep in a certain position, foracquiring that they toss and turn into many different positions anyway no matter where they may start out.
But what most morning back pain sufferers never do is deal with the cause of the problem. It has nothing to do with sleeping. It is no different from any other back pain you feel during the day.
All back pain is caused by misshaped disc in your back. Years of neglect and bad posture combined with gravity is the cause. And yes, gravity still has an effect on your spine even if you are lying down.
Morning back pain is a sign of problems. It is foolish to focus on stopping the pain without addressing the underlying cause. The disc that are out of shape.
You can, or your body can, reshape the disc on its own if you would remove gravity for several minutes each day. This is proven by astronauts that come back to earth an inch or two taller than when they left.
Mild inversion, about 20 degrees, would put your back in a gravity neutral position and allow the disc some time to naturally reshape themselves. At that level of inversion, the more time you could give yourself the better.
If you do not have access to an inversion table, a piece of plywood propped up on a cinder block is about the right angle.
If your pain is chronic and acute, you may prefer to limit your inversion time until the pain is more bearable. For total back pain relief, the right mix of gentle stretching and mild inversion would do the trick.
Morning back pain is a sign of awaits you 24 hours a day if you do not take care of the problems now.
Stop your morning back pain today
Many have been to doctors looking for assist. Others have tried new mattresses and pads. Some even try to fall asleep in a certain position, foracquiring that they toss and turn into many different positions anyway no matter where they may start out.
But what most morning back pain sufferers never do is deal with the cause of the problem. It has nothing to do with sleeping. It is no different from any other back pain you feel during the day.
All back pain is caused by misshaped disc in your back. Years of neglect and bad posture combined with gravity is the cause. And yes, gravity still has an effect on your spine even if you are lying down.
Morning back pain is a sign of problems. It is foolish to focus on stopping the pain without addressing the underlying cause. The disc that are out of shape.
You can, or your body can, reshape the disc on its own if you would remove gravity for several minutes each day. This is proven by astronauts that come back to earth an inch or two taller than when they left.
Mild inversion, about 20 degrees, would put your back in a gravity neutral position and allow the disc some time to naturally reshape themselves. At that level of inversion, the more time you could give yourself the better.
If you do not have access to an inversion table, a piece of plywood propped up on a cinder block is about the right angle.
If your pain is chronic and acute, you may prefer to limit your inversion time until the pain is more bearable. For total back pain relief, the right mix of gentle stretching and mild inversion would do the trick.
Morning back pain is a sign of awaits you 24 hours a day if you do not take care of the problems now.
Stop your morning back pain today
Healing Gout Arthritis Pain
Understanding gout is really significant, but it's also significant to understand that gout exists because gout is a form of arthritis. hence, gout arthritis could occur, just as other forms of arthritis can, in many joints in the body aside from the big toe including: elbows, wrists, fingers, knees, ankles, heels, and instep.
Gout is considered to be one of the most painful rheumatic diseases. When uric acid crystal deposits become lodged between two bones of a joint space or connective tissue, or both, the deposits could lead to inflammatory arthritis. Arthritis is characterized by inflammation (heat, redness and swelling), pain and stiffness of a joint. The term arthritis is used to refer to over 100 different rheumatic diseases that affect the tissues, structures, joints, muscles and bones within the body. Gout accounts for an estimated 5% of all arthritis cases.
When you experience a gout attack, you would check that there are different ways you could treat and assist alleviate the inflammatory arthritis pain you feel. The following are 7 easy tips to assist you treat your gout pain:
1. Apply a cold compress - Applying a cold compress could be beneficial for treating inflammation and reducing swelling especially during the initial attack. Apply a cold compress (I.E. wrap an ice pack, or another frozen item like a bag of frozen veggies, in a towel) to the affected area. The compress should be kept on the area for 20 minutes maximum, and should be removed for 20 minutes before repeating the process.
2. Warm the affected area - Apply a warm hot water bottle to aching muscles around the area to alleviate stiffness when the attack begins to ease. Do not apply warmth to an inflamed joint as this only makes inflammation worse. Apply the warm item for 30 minutes every 2 - 3 hours. Additionally, immersing the affected area in warm water, or applying a warm moist cloth to the area also offers short-term relief.
3. Stretch - To relieve stiffness and inflammation, stretch the muscles and joints affected by gout arthritis by slowly flexing and rotating them two or three times per day. Only flex and rotate the joint within limits. In other words, as soon as you begin to feel discomfort, try to stretch the joint a little further, but as soon as you feel pain, stop. Exercises like Yoga and Pilates are known to benefit arthritis sufferers. If you are interested, consult a professional yoga or Pilate's instructor to learn safe and recommended stretches for your condition.
4. Exercise - Even if you are in pain you need to stay active. Not using the affected muscle, joints, etc. is only going to cause stiffness and make it worse. Exercising in warm water is beneficial for gout arthritis and arthritis in general. When you are immersed in water, your joints are under less stress which assists to alleviate some of the pain you feel. Water offers greater mobility and flexibility. It's also a good idea to first talk to your doctor to check out if there are any exercises he/she could recommended for your condition. Finally, exercising would also assist you control your weight, as being overweight could also aggravate your joints by causing additional stress.
5. Change your diet - eliminate all foods and beverages that are high in purines (I.E. organ meats, yeast and alcohol) from your diet during a gout arthritis flare-up to try and bring down the uric acid levels in your blood.
6. Relax - acquire a goodnight sleep, and rest affected joints by keeping them elevated above your heart. Elevation assists to improve blood flow which assists to lessen pain, and discomfort.
7. Medication - NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Naprosyn), etc., are commonly prescribed to treat arthritic pain and inflammation. Many NSAIDs are available over-the-counter. However, you should first speak to your doctor before using NSAIDs as a treatment option.
Remember, though gout arthritis and other forms of arthritis might be alike, they are different because of how arthritis inflammation occurs. hence, not all forms of arthritis treatment might be useful to gout sufferers. Which is why it is a good idea to speak to your doctor about treatment options, so you receive the best treatment suggestions for your condition.
Gout is considered to be one of the most painful rheumatic diseases. When uric acid crystal deposits become lodged between two bones of a joint space or connective tissue, or both, the deposits could lead to inflammatory arthritis. Arthritis is characterized by inflammation (heat, redness and swelling), pain and stiffness of a joint. The term arthritis is used to refer to over 100 different rheumatic diseases that affect the tissues, structures, joints, muscles and bones within the body. Gout accounts for an estimated 5% of all arthritis cases.
When you experience a gout attack, you would check that there are different ways you could treat and assist alleviate the inflammatory arthritis pain you feel. The following are 7 easy tips to assist you treat your gout pain:
1. Apply a cold compress - Applying a cold compress could be beneficial for treating inflammation and reducing swelling especially during the initial attack. Apply a cold compress (I.E. wrap an ice pack, or another frozen item like a bag of frozen veggies, in a towel) to the affected area. The compress should be kept on the area for 20 minutes maximum, and should be removed for 20 minutes before repeating the process.
2. Warm the affected area - Apply a warm hot water bottle to aching muscles around the area to alleviate stiffness when the attack begins to ease. Do not apply warmth to an inflamed joint as this only makes inflammation worse. Apply the warm item for 30 minutes every 2 - 3 hours. Additionally, immersing the affected area in warm water, or applying a warm moist cloth to the area also offers short-term relief.
3. Stretch - To relieve stiffness and inflammation, stretch the muscles and joints affected by gout arthritis by slowly flexing and rotating them two or three times per day. Only flex and rotate the joint within limits. In other words, as soon as you begin to feel discomfort, try to stretch the joint a little further, but as soon as you feel pain, stop. Exercises like Yoga and Pilates are known to benefit arthritis sufferers. If you are interested, consult a professional yoga or Pilate's instructor to learn safe and recommended stretches for your condition.
4. Exercise - Even if you are in pain you need to stay active. Not using the affected muscle, joints, etc. is only going to cause stiffness and make it worse. Exercising in warm water is beneficial for gout arthritis and arthritis in general. When you are immersed in water, your joints are under less stress which assists to alleviate some of the pain you feel. Water offers greater mobility and flexibility. It's also a good idea to first talk to your doctor to check out if there are any exercises he/she could recommended for your condition. Finally, exercising would also assist you control your weight, as being overweight could also aggravate your joints by causing additional stress.
5. Change your diet - eliminate all foods and beverages that are high in purines (I.E. organ meats, yeast and alcohol) from your diet during a gout arthritis flare-up to try and bring down the uric acid levels in your blood.
6. Relax - acquire a goodnight sleep, and rest affected joints by keeping them elevated above your heart. Elevation assists to improve blood flow which assists to lessen pain, and discomfort.
7. Medication - NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Naprosyn), etc., are commonly prescribed to treat arthritic pain and inflammation. Many NSAIDs are available over-the-counter. However, you should first speak to your doctor before using NSAIDs as a treatment option.
Remember, though gout arthritis and other forms of arthritis might be alike, they are different because of how arthritis inflammation occurs. hence, not all forms of arthritis treatment might be useful to gout sufferers. Which is why it is a good idea to speak to your doctor about treatment options, so you receive the best treatment suggestions for your condition.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Natural Chronic Pain Reliever Using Combination Tens - Interferential Device At Home Or Office
Tens and interferential units are both used to block the pain signals along sensory nerve routes and frequently are used as natural and effective pain management. Interferential Stimulation differs from TENS because it allows a deeper penetration of efficacious electrical current in the tissue with more comfort (compliance) and increased circulation. 'For example, at a frequency of 4,000 Hz (Interferential unit) capacitive skin resistance is eighty (80) times lower than with a frequency of 50 Hz (in the TENS range).
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) was designed to stimulate sensory nerve endings in order to decrease the perception of pain. The stimulus blocks pain signals passing along the nerves to the central nervous system. There are many articles that also say TENS would produce excess production of natural pain killers which would control pain but in practice this methodology with TENS rarely is efficacious. TENS blocks pain signals to the brain/spinal cord. TENS stimulation is characterized by biphasic (positive/negative) balanced charges and user selectable pulse width and pulse rate.
Interferential therapy (IF/ IFC) is frequently described as 'deep TENS'. Interferential therapy is two high frequencies of 4,000 cycles per channel, overlapping, resulting in 8,000+ pulses per second in the affected area. That enables the electrical currents to penetrate deeper into the tissues. The extra frequency allows the frequency over 8,000,(1- 150) the benefit of low frequency stimulation without the uncomfortable effects of TENS. Interferential therapy offers not only pain relief, but also contributes to acceleration in healing, increased blood flow and edema reduction.
The basic goal of interferential current therapy is to give a pleasant sensation during treatment and achieve deeper tissue penetration alowing carryover pain relief. The uncomfortable sensation felt by many patients using TENS is due to the resistance of the skin to the passing electrical currents. The level of discomfort is inversely proportional to the frequency of stimulation. Hence, the lower the frequency applied, the greater is the discomfort felt. Interferential current therapy uses two medium frequencies applied at the same time in such way that their paths cross and interfere with each other. The interference between them leads to changes producing modulated frequency that has the same therapeutic effects as low frequency stimulation, but without the normal side effects of unpleasant sensation or discomfort.
Interferential therapy is safe and has no side effects. While the interferential therapy is really effective, it causes a minimum skin sensation and the level of discomfort related to the electrical stimulation.
Conditions that respond to TENS & Interferential include the following:
-Rheumatoid Arthritis,
-Osteoarthritis,
-Post Amputation Pain/Phantom Limb Pain
-Back Pain,
-Lumbago,
-Sciatica,
-Whiplash,
-Sports Injuries,
-Neuralgia,
-Skeletal Pains,
-Muscle Aches,
-Cancer Pain,
-Menstrual Pain,
-Labour Pain,
-Tension - Migraine
-Travel Sickness
-Insurance Reimbursable
Tens has been recognized as efficacious and the rent and purchase paid by almost all major insurance companies for decades, including Medicare (HCFA), when used for chronic pain. Medicare would pay for an interferential treatment in a health facility but does not pay for the rental/purchase of an interferential unit. Many patients have not had the money to pay out of pocket for an interferential unit even though the benefits are obtained in the clinical setting . In certain instances a patient may have coverage for "DME", durable medical equipment, like wheelchairs, potty seats, canes, crutches, and walkers. If the patient has DME coverage then in almost all situations Interferential might be covered.
The combination of TENS and IFC in one unit now means when the unit is prescribed for chronic pain that even Medicare would cover it. The new combination IFC/TENS device with both modalities would open up new treatment parameters for patients now that an IFC unit could be rented or purchased by a patient.
Bob Johnson is owner/founder of MedFaxx, Inc. and has multiple patents for non pharmacological treatment of chronic pain, decubitus ulcers, using electrotherapy and ultraviolet F.D.A. approved medical devices.
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) was designed to stimulate sensory nerve endings in order to decrease the perception of pain. The stimulus blocks pain signals passing along the nerves to the central nervous system. There are many articles that also say TENS would produce excess production of natural pain killers which would control pain but in practice this methodology with TENS rarely is efficacious. TENS blocks pain signals to the brain/spinal cord. TENS stimulation is characterized by biphasic (positive/negative) balanced charges and user selectable pulse width and pulse rate.
Interferential therapy (IF/ IFC) is frequently described as 'deep TENS'. Interferential therapy is two high frequencies of 4,000 cycles per channel, overlapping, resulting in 8,000+ pulses per second in the affected area. That enables the electrical currents to penetrate deeper into the tissues. The extra frequency allows the frequency over 8,000,(1- 150) the benefit of low frequency stimulation without the uncomfortable effects of TENS. Interferential therapy offers not only pain relief, but also contributes to acceleration in healing, increased blood flow and edema reduction.
The basic goal of interferential current therapy is to give a pleasant sensation during treatment and achieve deeper tissue penetration alowing carryover pain relief. The uncomfortable sensation felt by many patients using TENS is due to the resistance of the skin to the passing electrical currents. The level of discomfort is inversely proportional to the frequency of stimulation. Hence, the lower the frequency applied, the greater is the discomfort felt. Interferential current therapy uses two medium frequencies applied at the same time in such way that their paths cross and interfere with each other. The interference between them leads to changes producing modulated frequency that has the same therapeutic effects as low frequency stimulation, but without the normal side effects of unpleasant sensation or discomfort.
Interferential therapy is safe and has no side effects. While the interferential therapy is really effective, it causes a minimum skin sensation and the level of discomfort related to the electrical stimulation.
Conditions that respond to TENS & Interferential include the following:
-Rheumatoid Arthritis,
-Osteoarthritis,
-Post Amputation Pain/Phantom Limb Pain
-Back Pain,
-Lumbago,
-Sciatica,
-Whiplash,
-Sports Injuries,
-Neuralgia,
-Skeletal Pains,
-Muscle Aches,
-Cancer Pain,
-Menstrual Pain,
-Labour Pain,
-Tension - Migraine
-Travel Sickness
-Insurance Reimbursable
Tens has been recognized as efficacious and the rent and purchase paid by almost all major insurance companies for decades, including Medicare (HCFA), when used for chronic pain. Medicare would pay for an interferential treatment in a health facility but does not pay for the rental/purchase of an interferential unit. Many patients have not had the money to pay out of pocket for an interferential unit even though the benefits are obtained in the clinical setting . In certain instances a patient may have coverage for "DME", durable medical equipment, like wheelchairs, potty seats, canes, crutches, and walkers. If the patient has DME coverage then in almost all situations Interferential might be covered.
The combination of TENS and IFC in one unit now means when the unit is prescribed for chronic pain that even Medicare would cover it. The new combination IFC/TENS device with both modalities would open up new treatment parameters for patients now that an IFC unit could be rented or purchased by a patient.
Bob Johnson is owner/founder of MedFaxx, Inc. and has multiple patents for non pharmacological treatment of chronic pain, decubitus ulcers, using electrotherapy and ultraviolet F.D.A. approved medical devices.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Why Do I Constantly Develop Muscle Tension In My Neck And How Could I End The Pain And Soreness?
Do you frequently wake up with a stiff neck? Feel like you always have soreness across the shoulders? Notice you cannot turn your head like you should be able to? Sometimes feel the tension going right up into your head, causing a headache? Or even check it frequently difficult to work on the computer or drive for a long period without having your neck tension increase?
Many people suffer from tightness, spasm or sore muscles in the neck. frequently times if you feel the neck you could check hard nodules which are knots in the muscles or what I call trigger points. It is really common.
Usually the source of the problem actually stems from the neck spine and nerves in the neck. Why is this so? Well, to start, the nerves control our muscle function. If there is pressure on nerves in the neck your muscles are not acquiring proper communication, so they acquire imbalanced and do not work like they should. Next, a spine that is misaligned would not only contribute to possible direct pressure on a nerve by a spinal bone or bones misaligned but also it could create an uneven ness in the spine so that the muscles are not balanced. For example, if your spine is not straight u and down from the front to back and has a curvature to the side then the side the curve is toward has a constantly stretched and tense muscle. The opposite side would have a shortened muscle. Simply because of mechanics you might be able to tilt more to one side on the same hand the other side is limited.
Let's take another example of the forward head. From the side view our spine should have smooth flowing curves. The neck should have a C-curve of 40-60 degrees. This keeps the spinal cord relaxed and the nerves that come off it free of interference. It also allows your spine to with stand the forces of gravity at it's best. It has been shown that for each inch of forward head drift or carriage could cause 10+ more pounds of gravitational forces pressing down on you. Not to mention those muscles in the back of the neck that now have to work harder to hold the head up and in alignment.
So you could see from just two examples how misalignments could cause tension on the muscles and/or put pressure on the nerves causing pain and blocked communication of the brain and spinal cord to those muscles.
How could I threw of this neck pain and tension?
Fix the cause - the unpreferred misalignments and nerve pressure.
acquire your spine treated by a Chiropractor or Osteopath. A Massage Therapist or Physical Therapist could assist as well. The Chiropractor or Osteopath could adjust or manipulate the spine into it's best position. They may also use muscle stretches or trigger point release techniques as does a Massage Therapist or cervical traction, electric muscle stimulation or postural exercises that a Physical Therapist may do as well.
Be aware of your posture - remember posture is a window into your spine. If your posture reveals a forward head carriage for example then your spine has lost some of the normal curvature and is out in front of your center of gravity. be sure your work station is ergonomically correct and also be aware of things that increase neck tension and stress.
Sleep with a good neck pillow. I recommend one with support for the normal cervical curvature (normal neck alignment).
Many people suffer from tightness, spasm or sore muscles in the neck. frequently times if you feel the neck you could check hard nodules which are knots in the muscles or what I call trigger points. It is really common.
Usually the source of the problem actually stems from the neck spine and nerves in the neck. Why is this so? Well, to start, the nerves control our muscle function. If there is pressure on nerves in the neck your muscles are not acquiring proper communication, so they acquire imbalanced and do not work like they should. Next, a spine that is misaligned would not only contribute to possible direct pressure on a nerve by a spinal bone or bones misaligned but also it could create an uneven ness in the spine so that the muscles are not balanced. For example, if your spine is not straight u and down from the front to back and has a curvature to the side then the side the curve is toward has a constantly stretched and tense muscle. The opposite side would have a shortened muscle. Simply because of mechanics you might be able to tilt more to one side on the same hand the other side is limited.
Let's take another example of the forward head. From the side view our spine should have smooth flowing curves. The neck should have a C-curve of 40-60 degrees. This keeps the spinal cord relaxed and the nerves that come off it free of interference. It also allows your spine to with stand the forces of gravity at it's best. It has been shown that for each inch of forward head drift or carriage could cause 10+ more pounds of gravitational forces pressing down on you. Not to mention those muscles in the back of the neck that now have to work harder to hold the head up and in alignment.
So you could see from just two examples how misalignments could cause tension on the muscles and/or put pressure on the nerves causing pain and blocked communication of the brain and spinal cord to those muscles.
How could I threw of this neck pain and tension?
Fix the cause - the unpreferred misalignments and nerve pressure.
Freeing Back Pain - Five Pieces Of Medical Equipment You Could Have At Home
Many people have back pain and these people are looking for ways to relieve and treat that back pain at home. There are many devices and medicines out there that states they are just for back pain, but are they really worth it? Do they really work? The truth is that there are many products out there that work. What results is back pain that is significantly reduced, which improves the quality of life. If you suffer from back pain, then having your own physical therapy equipment or massage therapy equipment in your home could really make a difference in your life.
Products that assist
Luckily, physical therapy supplies and massage therapy supplies are not just meant to be in the doctor's office. They could be brought home.
Here are some products that you might be interested in if you are looking to bring the physical therapy supplies home so that you could work on your back problems yourself:
The Total Back System by Motion may look like something you see in your local gym. Actually, some local gyms might have it to assist those having back pain issues. What this product uses is inversion therapy. This assists alleviate pain, relieve stress, and also strengthens the back. Something about back pain is that it bring downs core strength. When core strength is reduced, the back has to work harder to sustain itself. By strengthening your core muscles, you are taking stress off of your back and reducing pain.
The Total Back System is one of the best pieces of physical therapy equipment because it elongates the spine, which relieves pressure from discs and nerves. All it takes is a few minutes a day and it is easy to move around if you need to.
The GT-1000 Gravity Table is another piece of physical therapy equipment that also uses inversion therapy to strengthen your back. It is a gravity table that forces you to use the muscles in your back and core. You are stretched out so you achieve an elongated spine. In the meantime, you are moving in a number of positions, including upside down.
The BW-1 Bio-Stim Belt and TENS is one of those physical therapy supplies that many people enjoy. Actually, it is also used in the massage therapy world as massage therapy equipment when you cannot have a massage therapist right there by your side. This is because it is like having a massage therapist under your shirt. The belt fits snugly so that it is hardly seen. There are electrodes on the inside of the belt that are operated from a small box that attaches to the belt. That way you could go about your daily activities while receiving those muscle stimulating jolts. This loosens up the lower back muscles and relieves pain. The settings are adjustable, you acquire a certain degree of back support, and you do not have to take pain killers to make the pain go away.
The ComforTrac Lumbar is a simple piece of equipment to use. By looking at it, it is hard to determine how exactly it would assist the lumbar spine, but it does. It is portable, affordable, and easy to use. The surfaces are cushioned, it only takes the push of one button to release the pump, it is strong without the significant weight, the carriage turn is automatic after traction occurs, pumping is quite effortless, and relief is evident. This would work for virtually anyone with lower back pain.
VitalWrap Hot & Cold Compression Therapy System brings about the usual "hot and cold" treatment method for injuries. It uses what looks like a blender, but incorporates both hot and cold temperatures to relieve back pain. You could place ice and water inside the device to produce the cold compression that you need. However, the device could heat that ice and water to give you the hot compression that you need. Everything is in one place so that you do not have to use different compression methods. All of it is in one machine, which is significant when a doctor gives orders to use both hot and cold compression to relieve pain and initiate healing.
Importance of these tools
These physical and massage therapy supplies are significant to have in your home if you have back problems. Even if you do not have problems now, something like the VitalWrap Hot & Cold Compression Therapy System should be present in the home anyway because such a device is helpful on any type of muscle injury. Unfortunately, any type of muscle injury is hard to avoid, especially injuries to the back. The back tends to be the most injured part of a person's body because of the day-to-day stress placed upon it. At least you could have the proper Physical therapy and massage therapy equipment in your home to take care of it when it occurs.
Products that assist
Luckily, physical therapy supplies and massage therapy supplies are not just meant to be in the doctor's office. They could be brought home.
Here are some products that you might be interested in if you are looking to bring the physical therapy supplies home so that you could work on your back problems yourself:
The Total Back System by Motion may look like something you see in your local gym. Actually, some local gyms might have it to assist those having back pain issues. What this product uses is inversion therapy. This assists alleviate pain, relieve stress, and also strengthens the back. Something about back pain is that it bring downs core strength. When core strength is reduced, the back has to work harder to sustain itself. By strengthening your core muscles, you are taking stress off of your back and reducing pain.
The Total Back System is one of the best pieces of physical therapy equipment because it elongates the spine, which relieves pressure from discs and nerves. All it takes is a few minutes a day and it is easy to move around if you need to.
The GT-1000 Gravity Table is another piece of physical therapy equipment that also uses inversion therapy to strengthen your back. It is a gravity table that forces you to use the muscles in your back and core. You are stretched out so you achieve an elongated spine. In the meantime, you are moving in a number of positions, including upside down.
The BW-1 Bio-Stim Belt and TENS is one of those physical therapy supplies that many people enjoy. Actually, it is also used in the massage therapy world as massage therapy equipment when you cannot have a massage therapist right there by your side. This is because it is like having a massage therapist under your shirt. The belt fits snugly so that it is hardly seen. There are electrodes on the inside of the belt that are operated from a small box that attaches to the belt. That way you could go about your daily activities while receiving those muscle stimulating jolts. This loosens up the lower back muscles and relieves pain. The settings are adjustable, you acquire a certain degree of back support, and you do not have to take pain killers to make the pain go away.
The ComforTrac Lumbar is a simple piece of equipment to use. By looking at it, it is hard to determine how exactly it would assist the lumbar spine, but it does. It is portable, affordable, and easy to use. The surfaces are cushioned, it only takes the push of one button to release the pump, it is strong without the significant weight, the carriage turn is automatic after traction occurs, pumping is quite effortless, and relief is evident. This would work for virtually anyone with lower back pain.
VitalWrap Hot & Cold Compression Therapy System brings about the usual "hot and cold" treatment method for injuries. It uses what looks like a blender, but incorporates both hot and cold temperatures to relieve back pain. You could place ice and water inside the device to produce the cold compression that you need. However, the device could heat that ice and water to give you the hot compression that you need. Everything is in one place so that you do not have to use different compression methods. All of it is in one machine, which is significant when a doctor gives orders to use both hot and cold compression to relieve pain and initiate healing.
Importance of these tools
These physical and massage therapy supplies are significant to have in your home if you have back problems. Even if you do not have problems now, something like the VitalWrap Hot & Cold Compression Therapy System should be present in the home anyway because such a device is helpful on any type of muscle injury. Unfortunately, any type of muscle injury is hard to avoid, especially injuries to the back. The back tends to be the most injured part of a person's body because of the day-to-day stress placed upon it. At least you could have the proper Physical therapy and massage therapy equipment in your home to take care of it when it occurs.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Heal Your Neck Pain With Yoga
Everyone acquires a little stiff neck once in a while, and yoga could wipe away the pain with a few concentrated exercises. First, though, you must be certain the pain isn't related to something more serious than a simple stiff neck. Instead of yoga, see a doctor if any one of the following is true:
- You neck pain has persisted for more than three days, or it keeps coming back.
- Your neck pain is accompanied by dizziness or nausea.
- The pain seems to radiate down into your arms or legs.
- The pain began with a fall or accident.
If your stiff neck does NOT meet any of the above conditions, these simple yoga exercises could assist increase your neck's flexibility and strengthen the neck muscles. By exercising you speed blood and needed nutrients to the area, easing the neck pain gradually. Try these:
Neck Stretches
Sitting cross-legged, tall and straight, and inhale eyes forward. Exhale, moving chin to chest. Repeat this breath five times, the fifth time holding chin to chest breathing three times through the nose. Inhale, raising the head to center again. This time drop your right ear to your right shoulder during the exhale. Repeat this breath five times, the fifth time holding ear to shoulder for three breaths. Repeat this sequence with the left ear to left shoulder.
Half-Circle Rolls
Drop your chin to your chest. Slowly roll it up to your right shoulder, down to center, up to the left shoulder and down to center. Repeat this three to five times. Never roll the head in a full circle, as this could cause damage.
Shoulder Hunches
Hunch your shoulders up as high as you can, then relax them completely. Repeat five to six times. Next roll your shoulders in forward circles five to six times, then backward circles five to six times. Notice how relaxed your shoulders feel. Try this quick relaxation exercise any time you feel tension building.
Chest Expander
Stand with your feet together and your fingers interlaced behind your back. Inhale while raising your hands behind your back, squeezing your shoulder blades together and tucking your tailbone under to keep from over-arching your back. Hold this position for three to four breaths, then lower your arms slowly during the next exhale.
Arm Lifts
Hold your arms straight out in front of you, parallel to the ground with palms facing each other but not touching. Inhale while bringing them up next to your head. Exhale while you bring them down again. Repeat this four to eight times.
Press It
Place either palm on the back of your head. Simultaneously press the head and hand against each other for a count of ten. Move the palm to the forehead and repeat the pressing for another count of ten. Now place the right palm against the right side of your head and press head and hand together for a count of ten. Repeat with the left palm and left side of the head.
These yoga exercises are designed to relieve physical stress and related pain. The best pain relief is pain prevention, so be sure to watch your posture and set your workspace to avoid slouching.
- You neck pain has persisted for more than three days, or it keeps coming back.
- Your neck pain is accompanied by dizziness or nausea.
- The pain seems to radiate down into your arms or legs.
- The pain began with a fall or accident.
If your stiff neck does NOT meet any of the above conditions, these simple yoga exercises could assist increase your neck's flexibility and strengthen the neck muscles. By exercising you speed blood and needed nutrients to the area, easing the neck pain gradually. Try these:
Neck Stretches
Sitting cross-legged, tall and straight, and inhale eyes forward. Exhale, moving chin to chest. Repeat this breath five times, the fifth time holding chin to chest breathing three times through the nose. Inhale, raising the head to center again. This time drop your right ear to your right shoulder during the exhale. Repeat this breath five times, the fifth time holding ear to shoulder for three breaths. Repeat this sequence with the left ear to left shoulder.
Half-Circle Rolls
Drop your chin to your chest. Slowly roll it up to your right shoulder, down to center, up to the left shoulder and down to center. Repeat this three to five times. Never roll the head in a full circle, as this could cause damage.
Shoulder Hunches
Hunch your shoulders up as high as you can, then relax them completely. Repeat five to six times. Next roll your shoulders in forward circles five to six times, then backward circles five to six times. Notice how relaxed your shoulders feel. Try this quick relaxation exercise any time you feel tension building.
Chest Expander
Stand with your feet together and your fingers interlaced behind your back. Inhale while raising your hands behind your back, squeezing your shoulder blades together and tucking your tailbone under to keep from over-arching your back. Hold this position for three to four breaths, then lower your arms slowly during the next exhale.
Arm Lifts
Hold your arms straight out in front of you, parallel to the ground with palms facing each other but not touching. Inhale while bringing them up next to your head. Exhale while you bring them down again. Repeat this four to eight times.
Press It
Place either palm on the back of your head. Simultaneously press the head and hand against each other for a count of ten. Move the palm to the forehead and repeat the pressing for another count of ten. Now place the right palm against the right side of your head and press head and hand together for a count of ten. Repeat with the left palm and left side of the head.
These yoga exercises are designed to relieve physical stress and related pain. The best pain relief is pain prevention, so be sure to watch your posture and set your workspace to avoid slouching.
Seasons Of Perspective - When Pain Goes Overwhelming, There Is A Formula Back To Joy
So many souls are choosing to transition during this time and as they move on to more expansive journeys, those they leave are left trying to piece together torn hearts. Being human could be such a beautiful and joyful experience, yet simultaneously so really painful. It is this full spectrum of experience we are capable of feeling that could either be a curse or a blessing, hinging on a simple change of perspective.
While the mind and spirit check more ease in understanding why things happen, the emotions have not the luxury of such logic. Emotions take time to make sense of it all and should be given the honor of their natural unfoldment to do so, free of judgment that binds us to our suffering. Yet judge not judgment, as it is an opportunity for allowance. We have the power to choose our way of experiencing and in taking ownership of our suffering, we are led to joy.
Human "Being" is a state of experience that is ever complex with duality, but was also meant to be a gift of harmonious union between physical and spiritual, which allows us the ability to experience in amazing ways. We as humans are gifted the opportunity of unlimited expansiveness and by design are extremely sophisticated, refined, and highly developed consciousness potentials waiting to blossom. Yet we choose only to live a fraction of that potential, unaware of what lies just on the other side of that wall we either hide behind or straddle. What is the fear? Fear of the promise of joy and what that could mean. This fear is a powerful thing that when chosen, gives away our power to choose. We fear our own humanness, the really thing that is so beautifully powerful, and what it would do if unleashed. Fear creates the separation and hinders our ability to see other perspectives that could instantly disintegrate it. Our hearts would never steer us wrong and reality could transform miraculously if we live in, and choose from, them always. We then come to understand the limitless options of experience and continuity of life beyond duality that lives with us from this state of being.
From our fragmented perspective, we fear death and endings as permanent and final. Like a door brutally slammed on our hearts, just as we were learning to open them. The secret here is that while a closed door might, in the realm of conditioned thought, mean the end to something and a desire to give up and never try again, the opposite is also true and might simply mean that a circle of life has completed a revolution and is about to pick up momentum for the next more expansive spiral of experience. Every pain has both the ability to sour us for life, or to sweeten the journey. The deeper we allow ourselves to explore the realms of watery abyss, the more beautifully we learn to swim with the grace and flow of our cetacean friends, through the turning tides of life.
Every coin has two sides and these two sides are part of the same coin. Yin and Yang are complete opposites, yet are integral to Oneness. One creates the possibility for the other and hence, is not a separate experience. together, they are grace in perfection; a feeling without words that is the expansive totality of consciousness "being" the essence of unconditional love. hence, to go deeper into your pain is to know joy. And in order to truly know the depths of joy, you would need to walk in the shoes of pain, until their experience becomes a perfect fusion. The beauty is that the length of each season is determined solely by the perspective you embrace, until the season integrates into one cycle.
I have recently lost the most beloved being in my life - my soul mate and best friend, Nestor. And yet what I discovered is that in losing her, I actually truly discovered her and she is with me more now than she ever was. We do not have to say goodbye when we come to embrace how expansive we really are and could see beyond one single focus trapped in time. This shift assists us to realize that the timeless love we feel and share is perpetuated in the life force energy that runs through every experience we have, ever encounter, and in everything tangible and intangible. When we see through different eyes, everything changes.
Nestor gifted me with so much in her physical life and continues to do so from the etheric realms. Yet ironically, the greatest gift she gave me was in the most traumatic experience of her transition. Through that moment, I came to know the totality of what both extreme spectrums of emotions felt like, simultaneously, which was the most awe-inspiring, expansive, soul-wrenching, and hauntingly beautiful feeling I have ever known. It was an instance of total surrender and vulnerability and like experiencing all stages of birth and death at the same time; coming to know the perfection and beauty of eternal creation and love. Like that moment a butterfly emerges from the cocoon, discovering its chrysalis form has taken flight. It does not mourn the loss of its caterpillar self, but embraces the joy of this new and expansive creation it has become. Not a death; merely a transformation. A simple change of perspective.
While the mind and spirit check more ease in understanding why things happen, the emotions have not the luxury of such logic. Emotions take time to make sense of it all and should be given the honor of their natural unfoldment to do so, free of judgment that binds us to our suffering. Yet judge not judgment, as it is an opportunity for allowance. We have the power to choose our way of experiencing and in taking ownership of our suffering, we are led to joy.
Human "Being" is a state of experience that is ever complex with duality, but was also meant to be a gift of harmonious union between physical and spiritual, which allows us the ability to experience in amazing ways. We as humans are gifted the opportunity of unlimited expansiveness and by design are extremely sophisticated, refined, and highly developed consciousness potentials waiting to blossom. Yet we choose only to live a fraction of that potential, unaware of what lies just on the other side of that wall we either hide behind or straddle. What is the fear? Fear of the promise of joy and what that could mean. This fear is a powerful thing that when chosen, gives away our power to choose. We fear our own humanness, the really thing that is so beautifully powerful, and what it would do if unleashed. Fear creates the separation and hinders our ability to see other perspectives that could instantly disintegrate it. Our hearts would never steer us wrong and reality could transform miraculously if we live in, and choose from, them always. We then come to understand the limitless options of experience and continuity of life beyond duality that lives with us from this state of being.
From our fragmented perspective, we fear death and endings as permanent and final. Like a door brutally slammed on our hearts, just as we were learning to open them. The secret here is that while a closed door might, in the realm of conditioned thought, mean the end to something and a desire to give up and never try again, the opposite is also true and might simply mean that a circle of life has completed a revolution and is about to pick up momentum for the next more expansive spiral of experience. Every pain has both the ability to sour us for life, or to sweeten the journey. The deeper we allow ourselves to explore the realms of watery abyss, the more beautifully we learn to swim with the grace and flow of our cetacean friends, through the turning tides of life.
Every coin has two sides and these two sides are part of the same coin. Yin and Yang are complete opposites, yet are integral to Oneness. One creates the possibility for the other and hence, is not a separate experience. together, they are grace in perfection; a feeling without words that is the expansive totality of consciousness "being" the essence of unconditional love. hence, to go deeper into your pain is to know joy. And in order to truly know the depths of joy, you would need to walk in the shoes of pain, until their experience becomes a perfect fusion. The beauty is that the length of each season is determined solely by the perspective you embrace, until the season integrates into one cycle.
I have recently lost the most beloved being in my life - my soul mate and best friend, Nestor. And yet what I discovered is that in losing her, I actually truly discovered her and she is with me more now than she ever was. We do not have to say goodbye when we come to embrace how expansive we really are and could see beyond one single focus trapped in time. This shift assists us to realize that the timeless love we feel and share is perpetuated in the life force energy that runs through every experience we have, ever encounter, and in everything tangible and intangible. When we see through different eyes, everything changes.
Nestor gifted me with so much in her physical life and continues to do so from the etheric realms. Yet ironically, the greatest gift she gave me was in the most traumatic experience of her transition. Through that moment, I came to know the totality of what both extreme spectrums of emotions felt like, simultaneously, which was the most awe-inspiring, expansive, soul-wrenching, and hauntingly beautiful feeling I have ever known. It was an instance of total surrender and vulnerability and like experiencing all stages of birth and death at the same time; coming to know the perfection and beauty of eternal creation and love. Like that moment a butterfly emerges from the cocoon, discovering its chrysalis form has taken flight. It does not mourn the loss of its caterpillar self, but embraces the joy of this new and expansive creation it has become. Not a death; merely a transformation. A simple change of perspective.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Tips For Back Pain
Healthy
The result is that even when people are not doing yoga, they would still become aware of how they may have been moving and positioning their bodies in unhealthy ways. Yet, the posture practice transcends the class into daily life, which teaches us to sit and stand in healthy ways, during the course of a day. A healthy resilient spine distributes weight throughout the whole body. Yoga Poses would maintain a healthy spine and back. For the spine Yoga is one of the best forms of exercise to ensure that you never suffer from backache.
Balance
Balance is achieved by doing a combination of actions that oppose one another as you move through the poses. Balanced work strengthens and stretches the back and abs, and assists them to coordinate spinal stability. If balance is affected by the inability of the lower extremity to work to perform proper postural control strategies due to decreased strength and/or range of motion, then the exercise mode chosen for intervention must be effective in alleviating these deficits. Either way, if your flexibility or your balance is an issue, Yoga would assist you increase your flexibility and your balance gradually with practice and time.
Conclusion
Yoga and Back Pain in a first-of-its-kind study conducted by Group Health Cooperative's Center for Health Studies, yoga proved more valuable against low-back pain than other types of exercise. Yoga and back pain: A two-year $250,000 federal grant would fund a pilot study of the effectiveness of yoga as treatment for low back pain. You could learn more about yoga and back pain by checking out what trusted physicians have to say about yoga for low back pain and yoga exercise for back pain.
Keep an open mind with yoga, you would learn a lot about yourself and any imbalances that you may have. Regular exercise would assist to keep you in top form. Studies have shown that even the elderly have had great benefit with practicing yoga they seem to heal and recover quicker than those who did not practice yoga.
Just 20 minutes a day of practice would do wonders, however, if you check you have limited time then do what ever you can, even if you are at the office you could still do yoga. Keep an open mind and see what you could do rather than what you think you cannot. Little and frequently would assist to keep the mind and body mobile.
Glen Wood - The Yoga Teacher. Glen is a yoga expert who loves to teach you how to lose your neck, shoulder or back pain with yoga. He is dedicated to unlocking the Real Secrets of Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain.
The result is that even when people are not doing yoga, they would still become aware of how they may have been moving and positioning their bodies in unhealthy ways. Yet, the posture practice transcends the class into daily life, which teaches us to sit and stand in healthy ways, during the course of a day. A healthy resilient spine distributes weight throughout the whole body. Yoga Poses would maintain a healthy spine and back. For the spine Yoga is one of the best forms of exercise to ensure that you never suffer from backache.
Balance
Balance is achieved by doing a combination of actions that oppose one another as you move through the poses. Balanced work strengthens and stretches the back and abs, and assists them to coordinate spinal stability. If balance is affected by the inability of the lower extremity to work to perform proper postural control strategies due to decreased strength and/or range of motion, then the exercise mode chosen for intervention must be effective in alleviating these deficits. Either way, if your flexibility or your balance is an issue, Yoga would assist you increase your flexibility and your balance gradually with practice and time.
Conclusion
Yoga and Back Pain in a first-of-its-kind study conducted by Group Health Cooperative's Center for Health Studies, yoga proved more valuable against low-back pain than other types of exercise. Yoga and back pain: A two-year $250,000 federal grant would fund a pilot study of the effectiveness of yoga as treatment for low back pain. You could learn more about yoga and back pain by checking out what trusted physicians have to say about yoga for low back pain and yoga exercise for back pain.
Keep an open mind with yoga, you would learn a lot about yourself and any imbalances that you may have. Regular exercise would assist to keep you in top form. Studies have shown that even the elderly have had great benefit with practicing yoga they seem to heal and recover quicker than those who did not practice yoga.
Just 20 minutes a day of practice would do wonders, however, if you check you have limited time then do what ever you can, even if you are at the office you could still do yoga. Keep an open mind and see what you could do rather than what you think you cannot. Little and frequently would assist to keep the mind and body mobile.
Glen Wood - The Yoga Teacher. Glen is a yoga expert who loves to teach you how to lose your neck, shoulder or back pain with yoga. He is dedicated to unlocking the Real Secrets of Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain.
Why Suffer When You Can Gain Significant Relief With A Spinal Orthotic Support To Relieve Back Pain?
If you, or someone you know or love is suffering with low back pain you should seriously consider seeking pain relief by using harmless comfortable, pain relieving, offloading spinal low back orthotic supports.
What is an orthotic support?
An orthotic is a rigid supportive structure, the most effective would be lined with an alloplast material, a soft latex type foam which pads and to some degree, ventillates or acts to cool the area that it is lbeing addressed. The orthotic applies a gentle force -pressure- to the affected area to offload or relieve pressure causing pain to the area that is or might be caused by an injury, deformity, degenerated or degenerative or musculoskeletally diseased anatomic structure, like the low back or the area of the lumbar spine.
Why use an orthotic support vs. other medical treatments?
Even the best and most high tech established methods of medical treatment for conditions like herniated discs, sciatica, spondylolisthesis, radiculopathy, lumbago, stenosis are effective but not without measurable levels of medical risks. A really popular method of medical pain relief through a clinical medical procedures the targeted Epidural Steroid Injection, or ESI. This is probably one of the best and most effective means of treating many clinical presentations of low back pain. It also has its limitations. Patients generally must undergo general anesthesia, which has its own risks and potential complications.
The procedure may normally cause a dramatic spike, or sudden sharp increase in blood glucose, or sugar levels, increasing the risk of post procedural onset of diabetes for some patients who may already present certain clinical risk factors for the condition. Patients who may have diabetes should probably avoid these procedures altogether. Most physicians would normally offer other means of pain control like offloading support orthotics for their patients with diabetes. As effective as ESI's are, most patients could only safely receive three or four of these treatments per year.
This is just one of the many reasons why patients suffering with low back pain due to herniated discs, sciatica, radiculopathy, spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, facet syndrome, lumbar instability, lumbar sprain or strain, or lumbago, or any of the 'ABC LITANY' of common causes of low back pain need to use an offloading lumbar support orthotic.
It is a harmless means of obtaining non narcotic, non-surgical and non-invasive back pain relief. It is comfortable, custom fit, covered by Medicare, and private insurance. The vast majority of patients acquire guaranteed pain relief.
If you are someone that you may know or love is suffering with back pain THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED. I have been using one, as needed for the past nine years.
What is an orthotic support?
An orthotic is a rigid supportive structure, the most effective would be lined with an alloplast material, a soft latex type foam which pads and to some degree, ventillates or acts to cool the area that it is lbeing addressed. The orthotic applies a gentle force -pressure- to the affected area to offload or relieve pressure causing pain to the area that is or might be caused by an injury, deformity, degenerated or degenerative or musculoskeletally diseased anatomic structure, like the low back or the area of the lumbar spine.
Why use an orthotic support vs. other medical treatments?
Even the best and most high tech established methods of medical treatment for conditions like herniated discs, sciatica, spondylolisthesis, radiculopathy, lumbago, stenosis are effective but not without measurable levels of medical risks. A really popular method of medical pain relief through a clinical medical procedures the targeted Epidural Steroid Injection, or ESI. This is probably one of the best and most effective means of treating many clinical presentations of low back pain. It also has its limitations. Patients generally must undergo general anesthesia, which has its own risks and potential complications.
The procedure may normally cause a dramatic spike, or sudden sharp increase in blood glucose, or sugar levels, increasing the risk of post procedural onset of diabetes for some patients who may already present certain clinical risk factors for the condition. Patients who may have diabetes should probably avoid these procedures altogether. Most physicians would normally offer other means of pain control like offloading support orthotics for their patients with diabetes. As effective as ESI's are, most patients could only safely receive three or four of these treatments per year.
This is just one of the many reasons why patients suffering with low back pain due to herniated discs, sciatica, radiculopathy, spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, facet syndrome, lumbar instability, lumbar sprain or strain, or lumbago, or any of the 'ABC LITANY' of common causes of low back pain need to use an offloading lumbar support orthotic.
It is a harmless means of obtaining non narcotic, non-surgical and non-invasive back pain relief. It is comfortable, custom fit, covered by Medicare, and private insurance. The vast majority of patients acquire guaranteed pain relief.
If you are someone that you may know or love is suffering with back pain THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED. I have been using one, as needed for the past nine years.
How To Get Over Pain, Stress, Etc Practising Yoga And Using Your Cotton Yoga Mat
In the fast moving world of today, the most common problem faced by one and all is body pain and stress. People spend loads of money to be relieved of these problems. Yoga is the most widely used form of exercise to threw of them. It is the most economical form of exercise. The only equipment it requires is a good quality yoga mat.
Yoga harmonises the mind with body. It is a complete body-mind workout. It benefits all... Young- old, male- female, rich -poor, fat- thin. It assists in gaining wholesome health and is really valuable and useful. It assists in overcoming stress, increasing and improving flexibility, and in making us physically and mentally strong. It was initially practiced in India but is now becoming popular all around the world. some exercises of yoga offer benefits to different parts of body. It makes use of the muscles and joints that are not used in regular routine exercises. The most remarkable feature of yoga is that it even works on the internal part of the body like heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver etc. and that too in a thorough manner. It not only assists in keeping the diseases away but also warns before the likely onset of any disease. Yoga assists in toning muscles and relieving pain. It detoxifies the body by assisting in supply of blood to all parts of body.
For yoga to be give you benefit, one needs constant practise and correct technique. Yoga when not done in the right way could cause damage to joints and tissues. Yoga requires stretching and breathing exercises. To be benefited from it and to prevent injury to you, it should be done correctly. It should be done in a peaceful place with comfortable surroundings. Yoga mats offer a comfortable place for regular yoga practise.
Yoga mats of several different types of materials are available in the market. Out of these cotton mats are certainly among the bests. For hundreds of years a cotton yoga mat has been the option of yogis who practise yoga and meditation. There are many advantages of a cotton mat over the mats of other materials. The cotton yoga mats are extra thick and give a soft feel of cotton .It gives extra cushion and support for the joint and body. It is good for the knees and ankles as it prevents injury during exercise by providing extra padding. It offers excellent surface for workouts, as the surface is a non-slip surface. It is great for all exercises and massages. They are affordable and really inexpensive compared to others. Cotton yoga mats are easy to store and maintain also. They are available in different sizes and colours and shapes. They are durable and washable. These are portable, lightweight and could be transported with ease from one room to another or could be carried in a vehicle and for you picnics etc. They absorb perspiration, and maintain the posture. They are designed with great skill and are environment friendly.
Everyone requires basic fitness and a feeling of well-being. To achieve that people all around the world are following yoga. Those who have not started doing it should also begin to do so. Your ideal companion for doing it correctly and without the fear of acquiring injured is a cotton yoga mat.
Yoga harmonises the mind with body. It is a complete body-mind workout. It benefits all... Young- old, male- female, rich -poor, fat- thin. It assists in gaining wholesome health and is really valuable and useful. It assists in overcoming stress, increasing and improving flexibility, and in making us physically and mentally strong. It was initially practiced in India but is now becoming popular all around the world. some exercises of yoga offer benefits to different parts of body. It makes use of the muscles and joints that are not used in regular routine exercises. The most remarkable feature of yoga is that it even works on the internal part of the body like heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver etc. and that too in a thorough manner. It not only assists in keeping the diseases away but also warns before the likely onset of any disease. Yoga assists in toning muscles and relieving pain. It detoxifies the body by assisting in supply of blood to all parts of body.
For yoga to be give you benefit, one needs constant practise and correct technique. Yoga when not done in the right way could cause damage to joints and tissues. Yoga requires stretching and breathing exercises. To be benefited from it and to prevent injury to you, it should be done correctly. It should be done in a peaceful place with comfortable surroundings. Yoga mats offer a comfortable place for regular yoga practise.
Yoga mats of several different types of materials are available in the market. Out of these cotton mats are certainly among the bests. For hundreds of years a cotton yoga mat has been the option of yogis who practise yoga and meditation. There are many advantages of a cotton mat over the mats of other materials. The cotton yoga mats are extra thick and give a soft feel of cotton .It gives extra cushion and support for the joint and body. It is good for the knees and ankles as it prevents injury during exercise by providing extra padding. It offers excellent surface for workouts, as the surface is a non-slip surface. It is great for all exercises and massages. They are affordable and really inexpensive compared to others. Cotton yoga mats are easy to store and maintain also. They are available in different sizes and colours and shapes. They are durable and washable. These are portable, lightweight and could be transported with ease from one room to another or could be carried in a vehicle and for you picnics etc. They absorb perspiration, and maintain the posture. They are designed with great skill and are environment friendly.
Everyone requires basic fitness and a feeling of well-being. To achieve that people all around the world are following yoga. Those who have not started doing it should also begin to do so. Your ideal companion for doing it correctly and without the fear of acquiring injured is a cotton yoga mat.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Preventative Health and Yoga Therapy
Yoga therapy has been sitting by quietly, while the mainstream population has begun to "try Yoga," but that may soon change. With the world's governments and financial markets struggling along, there would be many changes in the near future. The world's governments would have to consider the massive cost of national defense, retirement programs, education, healthcare, energy, education, and preventative health.
At this time, prevention in healthcare is a "field of dreams." As we know, some medical conditions are inherent within our specific genetic pool. However, there are many ailments, diseases, and conditions, which are preventable.
This is where healing modalities like, Yoga therapy could become cost-effective alternatives to an over burdened medical system. Below is a question and answer session about the need for Yoga as a recognized form of therapy.
Q: What is Yoga Therapy?
A: Most of today's Yoga therapy could be traced back to Sri Swami Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who trained his share of modern masters, including his son T.K.V. Desikachar (Viniyoga) and B.K.S. Iyengar (Iyengar Yoga).
Yoga has therapeutic value and could be modified for any person. This is not the same form of Yoga movement seen in most health clubs. Yoga therapy involves teaching customized techniques, to one individual, based upon his or her specific needs.
This may encompass postures, specific breathing, meditation, and a large variety of Yogic techniques. The Yoga therapist's primary objective is to treat the whole person. Complete physical health cannot be separated from emotional and mental health.
In fact, spiritual health also plays an significant factor in recovery. We know that the power of prayer, mantra, and positive affirmation, would enable a person to heal faster. There is much conflict over which specific religion a person practices. Yet, this is a private decision and, as such, should be left to the individual.
Q: Why should Yoga teachers be concerned with Yoga therapy?
A: Some teachers are content teaching athletic forms of Yoga. This is a wonderful thing, but as we, and our students, grow older, teachers become aware of a variety of ailments. Constant pain creates a need for relief, because you could think of nothing else.
If you have a migraine, or back pain, could you think of much else? The mind is totally focused on pain. Hence, there is a need for inner calm and pain relief, which therapeutic Yoga could give.
Q: What is Yoga Therapy's future role in alternative health?
A: Yoga is the source of many different healing modalities. As I have stated many times, "Yoga is the mother of all health maintenance systems." Contemporary medicine and Yoga therapy have plenty of space together on the path to heal humanity.
There is no shortage of people who are in pain. Yoga is a cost-effective form of therapy. together, medicine and Yoga could effectively assist people who are suffering from a variety of ailments.
At this time, prevention in healthcare is a "field of dreams." As we know, some medical conditions are inherent within our specific genetic pool. However, there are many ailments, diseases, and conditions, which are preventable.
This is where healing modalities like, Yoga therapy could become cost-effective alternatives to an over burdened medical system. Below is a question and answer session about the need for Yoga as a recognized form of therapy.
Q: What is Yoga Therapy?
A: Most of today's Yoga therapy could be traced back to Sri Swami Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who trained his share of modern masters, including his son T.K.V. Desikachar (Viniyoga) and B.K.S. Iyengar (Iyengar Yoga).
Yoga has therapeutic value and could be modified for any person. This is not the same form of Yoga movement seen in most health clubs. Yoga therapy involves teaching customized techniques, to one individual, based upon his or her specific needs.
This may encompass postures, specific breathing, meditation, and a large variety of Yogic techniques. The Yoga therapist's primary objective is to treat the whole person. Complete physical health cannot be separated from emotional and mental health.
In fact, spiritual health also plays an significant factor in recovery. We know that the power of prayer, mantra, and positive affirmation, would enable a person to heal faster. There is much conflict over which specific religion a person practices. Yet, this is a private decision and, as such, should be left to the individual.
Q: Why should Yoga teachers be concerned with Yoga therapy?
A: Some teachers are content teaching athletic forms of Yoga. This is a wonderful thing, but as we, and our students, grow older, teachers become aware of a variety of ailments. Constant pain creates a need for relief, because you could think of nothing else.
If you have a migraine, or back pain, could you think of much else? The mind is totally focused on pain. Hence, there is a need for inner calm and pain relief, which therapeutic Yoga could give.
Q: What is Yoga Therapy's future role in alternative health?
A: Yoga is the source of many different healing modalities. As I have stated many times, "Yoga is the mother of all health maintenance systems." Contemporary medicine and Yoga therapy have plenty of space together on the path to heal humanity.
There is no shortage of people who are in pain. Yoga is a cost-effective form of therapy. together, medicine and Yoga could effectively assist people who are suffering from a variety of ailments.
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