Top 10 Reasons for Preventing Lower Back Pain

Recently reading the June 2011 issue of the health magazine, "to your health" I came across some tips about preventing lower back pain, put out by the American Chiropractic Association. Lower back pain is a common condition suffered by many of my patients. Whether from a car accident, bad ergonomics at work, a fall or arthritis in the lumbar spine. My patients always want to know ways of keeping a healthy back.

• Maintain a healthy diet, keeping your weight at the optimal level.
  
• Warm up before exercising is recommended especially stretching. Even simple activities such as shoveling snow or gardening should be started first with stretches.
  
• Wear comfortable footwear such as low heeled shoes.
  
• Sleep on a comfortable mattress that does not sag. Medium firmness is important to minimize curvature in the spine
  
• Lifting with your knees and keeping the objects close to your body is a smart way to lift any object. Also avoid twisting motions while lifting.
  
• Don't have prolonged periods of inactivity or bed rest. Maintaining an active life through regular exercise is important.
  
• Avoid habits such as smoking. It impairs blood flow depriving spinal tissues of oxygen and important nutrients
  
• Maintain proper posture
  
• Make sure your computer workstation is ergonically correct. Work with your Dr of Chiropractor to maintain proper alignment, and use lumbar supports if necessary while sitting
  

Additional Reading Resources

• I get pain when its bad weather outside, does that make any sense?
  
• Heat Vs Cold for Lower Back Pain Relief
  
• What Kind of Back Brace Will Work for My Body?
  
• Lower Back Pain Relief
  
• Lose the Back Pain System
  
• Non Surgical Spinal Decompression in Connecticut
• Contact the Glastonbury Chiropractor
  

The Glastonbury Chiropractor is located in central Connecticut- CT Spine and Disc Center specializes in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call our chiropractic office at 860-633-8756 to schedule an appointment and to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

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Low Back Pain And Its Many Causes!!!

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common complaints presenting to our Glastonbury office and remains one of the most challenging conditions to manage because there are so many causes of LBP. Some of the causes include the obvious such as over lifting, over use activities such as sports injuries (bowling, golfing, skiing, tennis, football, etc.), raking leaves, shoveling snow, and more. Frequently, work related strains are the primary cause of LBP due to the constant, persistent and awkward positions frequently required in many jobs, especially in repetitive motion assembly line work.

The cause can also be as simple as standing on 2 feet versus 4 feet. Studies show when 2 legged and 4 legged animals are compared, arthritis starts in the 3rd vs. the 6th decade of life, respectively due to the vertical load placed on the biped or 2-legged animal. In spite of this, after sharing this information with patients, I have not been successful in convincing them to start walking on all fours! Because we are a 2-legged species, addressing a short leg can have significant benefits to any spinal condition. This is because a short leg of only 5mm (1/4 inch) can result in a drop in the pelvis resulting in crooked foundation that the spine sits on, creating a curvature in the spine. This places stress on the spinal components including the spinal cord and nerves and can contribute or be the actual cause of not only Lpw Back Pain, but also problems higher in the spine including neck pain and headaches!

Many times, a satisfying outcome is not achieved until I address the leg length issue by the use of heel or a combination of heel and sole lifts. If a leg is short, the effects at the top – that is, the neck and head, are dramatically affected. In one case, treatment to the neck and head had little effect on his headaches and only after placing a heel lift in one shoe and arch support in both shoes did he feel significantly improved.

In most cases, treatment addressing the entire body from the feet up yields the most satisfying results. Also, secondary issues such as diet, stress management, home treatments including exercises, can be very important in the successful management of back pain. In many patients, a combination of chiropractic, leg length correction, and nutritional management including the use of vitamin and herbs resulted in the best approach results.

Usually, offering the patient advice on the methods of applying ice, modifying/reducing bending/ lifting activities, as well as performing the chiropractic treatment will satisfy the majority of patients. However, in some cases, co-management with other allied health care providers is necessary, especially where there is a slow response in the initial acute stage of LBP. If these less common cases should occur, the combination of chiropractic and primary care yields the best results.

In our Central CT Clinic, we offer a multidimensional, holistic approach to the treatment of low back pain so that a positive, satisfying outcome is achieved. We also incorporate the latest, most up to date treatment methods such as Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

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