Health blog Category: ergonomics
How disc problems cause upper body discomfort
Neck pain is a common complaint 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. With the high prevalence of desk jobs, the influx of cell phone use, computer use and video gaming, as well as time spent relaxing in front of the TV, our posture certainly suffers more often than we realize. Although poor posture and sedentary lifestyles are big contributions to neck pain, there are several other conditions that can cause that big pain in the neck.
Read full blogCarrying a Heavy Purse or Tote Bag?
Back pain is one of the most common complaints that patients have when they are coming to physical therapy. It is not only affecting middle-aged adults, but becoming more prevalent in the younger adult population. Most patients that come in report dealing with the pain for at least a month or more because they believe “it will go away on its own”, however more and more people have sedentary desk jobs or are performing activities without addressing core muscle strength.
Read full blogHave you ever fallen asleep in an awkward position?
By: Cierra Washington, ATC
Raise your hand if you’ve ever fallen asleep in an awkward position and had the unexpected pleasure of waking up to a “crick in your neck”. For years, I’ve used the phrase “crick in my neck,” and yet I never really knew what it referred to other than general neck discomfort. When most people complain of a “crick” in their neck, they’re referring to either pain or stiffness, most likely in the form of a cramp or spasm.
Ever have muscle spasms or feel like you’re leaning to one side?
By Cierra Washington, ATC
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!
Your spine consists of 33 bones: seven cervical, 12 thoracic, five lumbar, five sacral and four fused coccygeal bones. Only the top 24 bones are movable.
Travel Plans Coming Up…
Travel plans in the future? Maybe a vacation or holiday trip is on the calendar. Trips are always something to look forward to and we want to make sure you get to your final destination without any nagging aches or pains that could get in the way of fully enjoying your time. If you’re planning on driving, you should take into consideration proper ergonomic postures. Long drives can mean many hours of drivers and passengers sitting in awkward, static postures for long periods of time.
Read full blogEver Twist, Move or Lift Something the Wrong Way?
By Xavier Thompson, ATC
Back discomfort can be debilitating no matter what your walk of life. People living with back pain are often plagued by the inability to sleep, stiffness or difficulty with activities that they love. These may include running or hiking, gardening, walking the dog or playing with their grandchildren. Back pain is something we treat lots of patients for and they may be young athletes, active parents or older adults.
Sitting for Several Hours Each Day?
Neck pain is a common complaint that we see in physical therapy. Our posture as a society has continued to decline with the increased use of phones and computers. Poor posture can lead to many neck injuries that can be addressed with physical therapy.
Common Neck Injuries:
Cervical radiculopathy is a term that means radiating pain down into your arms/hands or upper back due to nerve compression in the neck.
Lifting and carrying items uncomfortable
Shoulder pain is one of the most common problems we see in physical therapy. It’s not just athletes like baseball players or swimmers either; we treat patients of all ages for shoulder problems. This condition can be the result of repetitive overuse of muscles in the shoulder, poor posture or traumatic injury to the shoulder.
Repetitive overuse of muscles can lead to tendinopathy or irritation of the tendons that attach at the shoulder. Some example of common repetitive activities include:
- Gardening and yard work
- Throwing (think about a baseball player)
- Carrying/lifting
Poor posture can lead to impingement of the rotator cuff tendons and is often seen in individuals that sit at a desk for long hours each day or spend a lot of time at the computer.
Read full blogThree tips to stand up straighter with less discomfort
By: Devin Wurman, DPT
These days, more people are working sedentary jobs at a desk and/or using mobile technology for their day to day communications. Think about how you sit when you do these things. How is your posture? It’s so easy for us to slip into a poor posture when we’re mindlessly reading emails or sending texts. The problem is that these poor postures are a direct cause of neck discomfort.
How a Tree Trunk Relates to the Upper and Lower Body
Many people will experience some form of lower back pain in the course of their life. There are many factors that can contribute to lower back pain. Some of the most common sources include:
- Muscle Strains
- Overuse Injuries
- Disc and Skeletal Issues
- Poor Posture
When treating lower back pain, it is important to address body mechanics and more importantly, strengthen your core. Focusing on core strength is one of the most effective ways to help ease lower back pain.
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