Health blog Category: back pain
The Importance of the Discs in Our Spines
What are They and Why do we Need Them?
You may have heard the analogy that the discs in your back are like a jelly doughnut. The outer lining of the disc is made of up rings and then in the center, there is a jelly-like fluid. When a disc is healthy, it is somewhat oval-shaped, the fluid is in the center of the disc and the rings are strong and thick.
Read full blogEnd the Vicious Cycle of Back Pain
Back discomfort can be debilitating for anyone experiencing it. Living with back pain often means being plagued by the inability to sleep, stiffness, and difficulty doing activities we love. This discomfort and pain impacts our ability to run, rock climb or hike, garden, walk the dog or play with our grandchildren. Back pain is something that can affects everyone from, young athletes, to active parents or older adults.
With many conditions, when you have pain or discomfort in one area of the body, and you don’t handle it, it can start impacting another area of your body.
Read full blogBack Pain No More!
Many of us have complained at one point or another about stiffness, or radiating pain into the buttock/legs or mid-back. These are both indicators of low back problems affecting us. Low back problems are very prevalent in our society and can greatly limit our ability to carry out daily tasks.
Symptoms of Low Back Pain:
The pain can range anywhere from a mild nagging, to a severe pain that will greatly limit your mobility.
Read full blogGet warm for the colder season!
In the warmer months, it easier for our bodies to warm up to the activities and stresses we place on them. However, as a therapist, I do begin to see more patients, especially back related injuries in the latter half the year. Why is that?
One thing that doesn’t tend to like to change is our activity level.
We all have our hobbies and passions that we would pursue 24/7 if we had the time and energy.
Read full blogOur Spines and Scoliosis
Here’s a riddle for you: What holds your body upright, is made up of a series of irregularly shaped bones, appears to be in a straight line but is also curved when you look at it from the side?
The answer: YOUR SPINE!
When the curves in your spine appear more exaggerated, it’s likely you’re looking at a spinal deformity. There are three ways that the spine can be categorized when it strays from the normal shape:
- Kyphosis
- Lordosis
- Scoliosis
Kyphosis and lordosis both refer to the excessive curvature where there is already a gentle curve in the spine.
Read full blogIt’s Not Just Our Posture That’s Affecting Our Neck
With the high prevalence of desk jobs, everyday cell phone and computer use, as well as ample time spent relaxing in front of your TV; your posture certainly suffers more often than you realize. Over time, these repetitive tasks put you into a position called forward head posture, in which your head and neck protrude forward into a flexed position.
Neck problems, neck spasms and general neck pain are common complaints in the orthopedic rehab world, and we’ve certainly treated our share of patients who suffer from various conditions related to neck pain at LSTC.
Three Common Causes of Our Back Issues
Roughly two-thirds of Americans suffer from low back issues in particular, yet only 63 percent actually take the steps to relieve their pain, according to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Of those two-thirds, 69% say their lower back pain affected their daily lives in different ways such as exercise, sleeping, working and time with family and friends. Those four activities alone make up almost the entire day for most Americans. So why not do something about the pain?
Read full blogIs Back Pain Plaguing Us With the Inability to Sleep…
If you are living with back problems and pain you are probably plagued by the inability to sleep, difficulty tying your shoes, bathing, sitting at work, or standing while waiting in line at the grocery store. You may also be restricted from your extracurricular sports activities and enjoying your favorite zumba exercise classes.
Like many conditions, when we have back pain or discomfort in one area of the body, if you don’t handle it, it can start impacting another area of the body and restrict you from enjoying your night at the movies, throwing the football with your son, or participating with your hiking club’s adventures. Back problems can make it difficult for you to complete your daily routine activities around the house.
Your Kid’s Backpack Could Lead to Chronic Back Pain
Unfortunately, the incidence of backpack-related injuries continues to climb each year as kids get overloaded with homework and transport multiple textbooks, notebooks and binders to and from school each day. School-aged children and teens report instances of pain, and parents often dismiss complaints, citing “growing pains.” However, when the problem gets severe enough, school-aged children often come to physical therapy because of chronic back pain. The good news is most back pain is easily preventable.
Read full blogHow to Avoid Back Pain
Is your back pain interfering with your life?
If you answered yes, you are not alone! Nearly four out of five people experience back pain at some point in their lifetime and many have repeat incidents of back pain throughout their life. With proper care and education, you can learn to prevent bouts of back pain from occurring.
Back pain can vary, from a persistent dull ache to sudden sharp pain, and can have many causes.