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Why You Want More Postural Transitions
What are postural transitions?
Answer: the movements you make when changing positions. These little movements range from slight adjustments like sitting up straight from slouching, to full postural changes like the transition from sitting to standing. Postural transitions have taken on a whole new gravitas as more and more Americans are transferring into the white collar work scenario. As an office of chiropractic, we wince at any job that asks you to sit for up to 8 hours a day.
- Out of all normal positions you will adopt throughout the day, sitting is the worst position for the human spine: most experts agree that it puts an average of 125kg of pressure on lumbar intervertebral discs.
However, we also realize that if that is how you earn a paycheck, you can use all our help in keeping your body healthy despite the burden of sitting. Postural transitioning is a key way you can do this.
Self-Care for Low Back Pain
Your body is a self-healing machine
Most instances of non-specific lower back pain will heal themselves without the necessity for medical intervention if given enough attention to recovery. Back pain should be closely monitored and any actions that could exacerbate your pain should be avoided; other than that, it is recommended that you carry on a light schedule of motion to prevent the stiffness, loss of muscle and flexibility that actually slows recovery. Movement helps maintain range of motion despite the injury and also contributes to better circulation to keep the nutrients and oxygen flowing to the injurious region that is most in need. Four weeks is a good threshold for self-care; if back pain persists beyond this point, it may be worth investigating your condition further with the help of a medical professional.
Pregnancy and Your Pelvic Floor Muscles
When it comes to pregnancy, no one wants a weak pelvic floor
The pelvic floor is a network of muscles and ligaments located at the bottom of the pelvic cavity. It is an extension of the core muscle network that connects the pubic bone, sit bones and tailbone, which means that it influences a whole range of bodily functions. When it comes to pregnancy, the importance of the pelvic floor multiplies. For a pregnant woman, the main purpose of the pelvic floor is to provide for bowel control and add a layer of strength and support to support and stabilize the spine while accounting for the weight of the growing fetus.
Easy Exercises to Prevent Pain During Pregnancy
Pregnancy benefits from movement
But the aches and pains of pregnancy, especially those in the lower back, can certainly slow you down. The process of physical and hormonal change can feel like an endurance race, testing you in different proportions at different times. That’s why it helps to keep a steady current of movement going throughout the process, to prevent stagnation of body and mind as you head towards your due date. As with starting any new exercise routine, a program of exercise for your pregnancy should be discussed with a health care professional before you start.
Testosterone Deficiency and Osteoporosis: What You Need to Know
Osteoporosis is linked to diminishing testosterone levels
While the words postmenopause and osteoporosis are frequently linked, less so are the words testosterone and osteoporosis. But the number 2 million can’t lie: that is an estimate of men thought to be living with osteoporosis in the United States alone. And while lifestyle factors always play their part, osteoporosis is also onset by low/diminishing testosterone and estrogen levels in men. As men age, their hormone production rates naturally decrease, including the critical estradiol and testosterone. This contributes to a thinning of the spongy bone material which means less bone density and the classic symptoms of osteoporosis including:
- Back pain
- Bones vulnerable to fracture
- Loss of height and stooped posture
The Unstable Spine is the Norm
The unstable spine sets you up for a world full of problems
Anything great begins with a solid foundation. Whether it is something as abstract as an idea or as tangible as a skyscraper, everything builds from the bottom. The human body is no different: your spine is the foundation of your body. The spine has a say in every single movement you make; likewise, it’s health is influenced by every single move you make. Not surprisingly, spinal health begins at the foundation of the spine: the sacrum and the sacroiliac joints which connect spine and pelvis. Misalignment of the vertebrae at the base of the spine, and dysfunction in the sacroiliac joints contributes to an unstable spine.
Your Chronic Pain is Unique
Chiropractic is a healing science
Chronic pain is one of the least tangible and least understood parts of modern medicine; for every person who finds lasting pain relief with a given treatment, there are others with the same diagnosis who will not. This is because every body is different and thus, every body is attempting to heal itself differently. Then we add in the treatments of modern medicine: drugs, surgery, or physical therapy; and we make lifestyle adjustments including diet, exercise. But this traditional method for treating pain simply does not work for everyone! Many people are left frustrated at the waste of money, time and energy they have spent on treatments that have done little to nothing for improving their pain. Alternative medicine exists because of the people who seek alternatives- the people who are willing to try something different because they know that tradition hasn’t worked for them.
Thoughts on Back Pain and White Collar Work
Could white collar work actually take the title for worst career related to back pain?
Although the idea of working at a desk has been around for less time than say manual labor, nursing or construction work, it is quickly earning its title as being horrible for the spine. As specialists in the musculoskeletal form, we can tell you that the human body simply wasn’t meant to sit at a desk for any extended period of time. Unfortunately, more people are facing the reality of earning their living at a desk. If this is the case you face, make sure you are taking care of your spine first and foremost; after all, it is one of your greatest assets on the job!
Thoughts on Back Pain and Nursing
Nursing is the profession with the most back pain
Research consistently shows that nursing comes out on top in the list of professions with the highest rate of back-pain related complaints, even ahead of more obvious contenders such as construction work, or auto repair. What is it about this job that is so taxing on the spine? Most studies have shown that it has to do with lifting, one of the most aggravating motions for the human spine. Furthermore, nurses do a fair amount of bending, another motion that puts a disproportionate amount of pressure on intravertebral discs and threatens spinal degradation. What can we do to prevent a nurse’s job from hurting her spine?
Thoughts on Back Pain and Construction Work
Construction work is among the professions with the highest incidence of back-pain
It is not hard to see why. Causes for back pain in the construction industry are mainly related to heavy lifting but also include:
- Vibration and shock absorption involved in the use of heavy equipment
- Twisting and lifting
- Improper body mechanics while performing a variety of lifting movements
Most of these activities result in strains of the supportive soft tissue in the back which causes inflammation, muscle spasm and severe pain. Construction workers should always take steps to prevent back pain and consult with a back-care specialist when pain strikes.