Archive for the 'Back Problems' Category

Trim Your Lower Body Just By Putting On The Right Type Of Shoes

Nov. 1st 2009

Welcome back!

Whilst walking barefoot through a paddy field in Korea, Swiss engineer Karl Muller noticed that his backache, which he suffered with, was quite a bit better. He did some additional research and found that the Masai tribesmen of Africa did not suffer from bad backs. They are also famous for their excellent posture.

Putting two and two together, Muller deduced that walking barefoot on soft, yielding ground was much better for your back and joints than walking on hard surfaces. He decided to try to produce a shoe which would reproduce the effects of walking barefoot on a soft surface such as sand or grass.

The final result was the Masai Barefoot Technology (MBT) shoe. In fact, according to the company website, it is so different to a traditional shoe that it merits the name of “anti-shoe”.

MBT shoes have a specially designed curved sole without a heel, which encourages a gentle rolling action when your foot makes contact with the ground. Just like walking barefoot on sand in fact. The use of different density materials in different areas also adds to the effect by further reducing impact shock and jarring.

Scientific studies have verified that this is genuinely better for your back and joints. In addition to better posture, there are other proven benefits. For instance, when walking normally in MBT shoes, the wearer’s muscles will be active for longer (in comparison with similar walking in traditional footwear). The muscles are in use for about 16% longer. Wearers also tend to “walk properly” and take somewhat shorter strides. Both of these effects raise the amount of work done.

The end result of this is that every single step you take whils wearing MBT shoes is providing you with ”free” exercise. It’s a lower body training session while you walk. So, as well as improving back pain and improving posture, MBT shoes also help to tone your legs and trim your buttocks.

You would imagine that would be sufficient wouldn’t you? However, in spite of these benefits some people find MBT shoes a little chunky and not very pleasing to the eye. They are also a little pricey (although considering the possibilities they may well be worth every penny). Fortunately there are now other, prettier, offerings available which use the same basic design. Both Skechers Shape Ups and Fitflops Fitflops have similar curved soles which are specially engineered to maximize the muscle activity timespan and tone your lower body whilst engaged in everyday, normal walking activity.

Whichever footwear you choose, the possibility of reducing back and joint pain whilst simultaneously toning and trimming your lower body – without needing to visit the gym – seems very attractive.

Posted by Kay Huna | in Back Problems | No Comments »

Ergonomic Computer Product Power Cast: Ergonomic Keyboard

Nov. 1st 2009

Employment of good ergonomics in one’s daily life gives a lot of benefits. There are actually many ergonomic computer products today in the market. Sure, they cost more than the regular computer products, but the benefits they give outweigh the cost. One of the most popular ergonomic computer products today is the ergonomic keyboards. They come in various designs such as the split keyboard design. This particular ergonomic keyboard allows one’s wrists and hands to be more relaxed. The generous space in the middle of the keyboard allows the wrists to rest when needed. As for the fingers, the close proximity of the keys reduces the effort exerted by both hands as well as their movement when typing.

Posted by Kay Huna | in Back Problems | No Comments »

Experience Relief Using The 3 Best Herniated Neck Disc Exercises

Oct. 20th 2009

stretching exercises for a bulging disc in the neck are incredibly important when it comes to healing any disc condition in the cervical spine. This article will discuss a few very simple exercises you can do at home for relief.

Before we talk about the exercises, though, it’s important for you to realize that there are three major problems that you will face when trying to heal your cervical disc condition.

The first issue is that most people with a disc condition in the cervical spine will have a straightened cervical curve. This is really important to realize, because the disc condition will tend to be at the back of the disc. When the curvature in the cervical spine is straight, it puts more pressure at the back of the disc, which dramatically slows the healing process.

The second issue is that the spinal discs do not receive very good blood flow. This is significant because the body normally uses blood to transport oxygen and nutrition to an injured area for quicker healing. Because the discs do not receive very much blood flow, healing can be very slow, and may never occur if you don’t do the right things.

The third issue is that the muscles in the neck will become weaker with this health problem. This is also a major issue because if the muscles are not strong enough, they will not maintain the proper alignment of your neck, which adds additional pressure to the disc and slows its healing.

So, what can you do about these three problems? Well, there are three exercises for a herniated cervical disc that you can use to address these problems.

The first exercise I’ll teach you is actually more of a stretch, and will help with the straightened curvature in the neck. What you want to do is to roll up a hand towel and place it under your neck while lying down. Try to lie on this for at least 15 minutes each day.

This will encourage a more normal curvature to develop in the cervical spine over time if done consistently. Also, when you’re sleeping at night, it helps if you have a good pillow that supports the normal curvature. I really like the Tempur-Pedic pillows, but any good orthopedic pillow will help.

The second exercise will address the issue of blood flow. You will need a therapy ball for this exercise, which is one of those large balls you see people using at health clubs or in physical therapy clinics.

All you need to do is to sit on the ball and gently bounce up and down for 5 minutes every day. The bounce should be so gentle that you do not even come up off the ball.

You may be wondering how this exercise could help you – especially if your problem is in the cervical spine. Well, although the discs do not receive oxygen and nutrients from blood flow, what does happen is that each disc will store oxygen and nutrients in the center of the disc. The only way to refresh this oxygen and nutrient supply is to physically pump the disc, which is what this exercise does.

This exercise will pump every single disc in the back, so it doesn’t matter if your problem is in the cervical spine or anywhere else in the spine.

The final exercise I’ll teach you requires a mini-trampoline, and it will address the issue of muscle weakness. All you need to do is stand in the center of the mini trampoline and march in place for 5 minutes a day.

This exercise requires you to balance, which will re-strengthen all of the muscles that surround your spine – including the neck muscles.

If you would like to learn more about the most effective herniated neck disc exercises that you can do, in addition to other treatment methods that are very beneficial, please click the following link (exercises for a herniated cervical disc).

Posted by Kay Huna | in Back Problems | No Comments »

Exercises For A Herniated Disc – Learn Two Of The Best Exercises

Oct. 20th 2009

Are you trying to find the most effective back exercises for herniated disc? Look no further – this article will discuss two of the most effective exercises that you can do at home, as well as give you some additional references.

In order to understand these exercises, though, you have to understand that there are two major issues that a person will face when trying to heal any type of disc condition.

First, the spinal discs do not receive a very good blood supply. This is very important, because the body relies on the blood to bring nutrients and oxygen to injured areas for faster healing. Because the discs do not receive a lot of blood, the healing process tends to be very slow, and if you don’t take the correct steps, healing may never happen.

The disc is very interesting, though, because it’s designed to make up for this character flaw. Each spinal disc is composed of a strong outer covering and a soft jelly in the center. What happens is that the jelly in the center actually stores oxygen and nutrients for healing in order to make up for the reduced blood flow.

More about that in a second – the second issue that you will face is a change in the muscles that surround the area of the spine where the injured disc is located. Muscles are responsible for maintaining a proper alignment of the spine, as well as maintaining a good posture.

When an individual has a herniated disc, the nerves in that part of the spine begin to malfunction, and these important muscles will begin to lose their strength. This creates a big problem, because if these muscles are not supporting the spine properly, the disc can not heal as easily because it is not being supported by these muscles.

In addition to that, if this issue isn’t dealt with, you will eventually develop other back problems because of how important these muscles are.

So, how do we deal with these problems? The following two herniated disc exercises are a very important part of the answer. These exercises should be done no matter where your herniated disc is located (the neck, thoracic spine, or lower back), because they will help all areas of the spine.

The first exercise requires the use of a mini-trampoline, which you can find at any local sports store. All you need to do is to stand in the center of the trampoline and march in place for 5 minutes each day. Keep your head looking straight forward and your arms to your side if possible.

Do not jump – just march in place. When you do this exercise, you are forced to balance, which will strengthen the muscles that surround the spine. Over time, this will address the second issue that we discussed above (muscle weakness). As I stated earlier, this helps every area of the spine.

The second exercise requires the use of a therapy ball, which is one of those large balls you see people using sometimes to strengthen their abdominal muscles. All you want to do is to sit on the ball and gently bounce up and down for 5 minutes each day.

This exercise may sound odd, but what is occurring is that the bouncing motion is pumping every disc in the spine, which replenishes the oxygen and nutrients within the jelly of the disc and pumps out toxins so healing can occur more quickly.

This exercise is also important for all areas of the spine, because you are pumping every disc from the top of the neck down to the bottom of the spine.

There are other exercises that you will find useful also. If you would like to learn more about the most effective exercises you can do to help a herniated disc heal, please click the following link (back exercises for herniated disc).

Posted by Kay Huna | in Back Problems | No Comments »

Exercises For A Bulging Disc – The Two Best Exercises For Fast Results

Oct. 15th 2009

bulging disc exercises are a very important part of any healing program. This article will teach you 2 exercises that are excellent for bulging discs anywhere in the back, and will give you a good reference for additional exercises.

With this condition, there are essentially two major issues that you will face, which makes it very hard to heal.

First, there is very little blood flow to the spinal discs, and because of this they heal very slowly. Blood flow is very important for anything to heal properly – the blood brings fresh oxygen and nutrients to the injured tissues and takes away toxins.

The second issue is that, when a disc bulges, the vertebrae above and below the disc begin to shift out of their normal alignment (because maintaining this proper alignment is one of the major jobs of the discs), causing the small muscles around the spine to lose strength.

These muscles are very significant because they help maintain a healthy posture, and if they begin to lose their normal strength because of this condition, you will develop other problems related to the spine over time.

So, is there a way to address these 2 issues? Yes – there are two exercises for a bulging disc that you can do to address these issues, and I’m going to teach you how to do them right now.

The first exercise I’m going to recommend that you do is one that involves the use of a therapy ball. These are the large exercise balls you see people sometimes using to do abdominal exercises, and you can purchase them at just about any sports store, or even a large department store like Wal-Mart.

What you want to do is to sit on the ball, and softly bounce up and down for 5 minutes each day. The bounce should be so gentle that your buttock doesn’t even come up off the ball.

How will this help your bulging disc? Well, because the discs don’t receive very good blood flow, they store the oxygen and nutrients they need within the fluid in the center of the disc. The only way you can replenish the oxygen and nutrients is by physically pumping the disc.

This exercise will allow you to pump every disc in the back, which brings fresh oxygen and nutrients into the disc for healing and pumps out toxins. This will help every disc in the back, so it doesn’t matter if your problem is in your neck, upper back, or lower back – this exercise is for everyone.

The second exercise I’ll teach you involves the use of a mini-trampoline. This can also be purchased at any sports store, and all you want to do is to stand on the trampoline and march in place for 5 minutes each day. Do not jump, bounce, or run – simply march in place with your head looking straight ahead and your arms to your side.

This exercise forces the small muscles that surround the spine to become stronger, and over time will improve your posture and remove pressure from the injured disc.

This exercise is also good for all areas of the back.

It is also important that you have a good stretching and strengthening program for bulging discs. If you would like to learn more about the most effective exercises for this condition, simply click the following link (exercises for a bulging disc).

Posted by Kay Huna | in Back Problems | No Comments »

The 3 Back Exercises For Disc Problems That You Can Do At Home For Relief

Oct. 12th 2009

If you’re looking for back exercises for a herniated disc that can help relieve your pain in a short period of time, you’ve come to the right place.

A good exercise program is a very important part of healing any disc problem (or spinal problem, for that matter), but it can be a little intimidating because you don’t want to re-injure yourself.

Because of this fear, the first thing I want to tell you is that a good exercise program should NOT cause you more pain. You can expect to feel achiness, but this is one situation where you don’t want to push yourself.

It can be very tricky to heal a herniated disc, and if you jump into these exercises too fast, you could cause more damage rather than improvement.

So, what would be a good regimen of back disc exercises?

Well, there are 3 types of exercises that should be done every day, and these exercises will help you whether your disc problem is in your neck, upper back, or lower back.

The first exercise I’ll teach you requires a therapy ball, which is one of those large balls they use in physical therapy clinics.

Basically, you just want to sit on the ball and gently bounce up and down for 4 – 5 minutes each day. The bounce should be so gentle that your buttock doesn’t come up off the ball at all.

What does this exercise do, you may wonder? It pumps each spinal disc, which helps to pump out toxins that limit healing and at the same time, brings fresh oxygen and nutrients into the disc for faster healing.

Does this only help the low back? No – this exercise will pump every single disc in the spine, so even if your problem is in the neck or the upper back, you can still benefit from this exercise.

The second exercise you want to do every day involves the use of a mini-trampoline (which can be purchased at any sports store). Simply march in place with your head looking forward and your arms to your side for 4 – 5 minutes each day.

This exercise will help to improve your balance, which is very important for maintaining a properly aligned spine. When you have proper alignment, it takes pressure off the discs and allows them to heal more quickly.

Once again, this exercise is helpful no matter where your disc problem is located within your back.

If you would like to learn about the last 2 types of exercises that I recommend for this problem, click here (exercises for bulging discs).

Posted by Kay Huna | in Back Problems | No Comments »

Why a one off cost of a memory foam mattress would make financial sense for the future

Sep. 26th 2009

memory foam mattresses are the mattresses of the future. NASA developed the memory foam technology more than 20 years ago, and Visco continues to improve on their original model with their inexpensive memory foam mattresses. Like all memory foam mattresses, when you lay down the mattress molds around you and cradles the body. Because you sink into it, the mattress relieves strain on your body by eliminating pressure on certain points of your body, which has great health benefits, including relieving joint pain, aligning your vertebra, leaving your body in the position it was always meant to sleep in..

Visco foam is not just comfortable. It is also hypo-allergenic and temperature sensitive. When you turn on the mattress it adjusts to eliminate pressure points regardless of your position. The temperature sensitivity creates just the right conditions to soften the foam accommodating your natural curves. As your body heats up the foam it becomes more pliable creating a seemingly air-like cushion leaving you in a perfect state of relaxation.

The Visco Foam Mattress is great for people who are bothered by their partners movements sending vibrations to their side of the bed. The Visco foam mattress does not have motion sensitivity.

Benefits of the Visco Foam:
1. Helps you get a better nights sleep
2. Relieves the bodys pressure points
3. Brings the body relief
4. Conforms to the body and shape
5. Aligns the vertebra
6. Relieves joint pain

The Visco memory foam is softer than the normal memory foam. Other foams will become hard when in cold weather and soft in hotter weather; Visco is less sensitive to these changes in the weather. It is more consistent when it comes to its support and feel. The Visco foam is recommended by numerous medical professionals, including doctors, physical therapist and chiropractors. Many patients report to them a deeper sleep with less tossing and turning, waking up with less pain. When shopping for a Visco foam mattress, you will notice they are more expensive than coil beds, but remember they do retain great resilience. A regular mattress will wear out through the years; the Visco keeps its overall support and structure much longer and the warranty that comes with them it is more than twenty years.

Posted by Kay Huna | in Back Problems | No Comments »

Back Relief Massager – The Handy Home Companion

Sep. 23rd 2009

One of the finest corporeal pleasures is a back massage. However the problem is going to a spa to get a rub on is not always a viable option because the costs can be quite steep. Moreover, you might not find a good spa near your place as well. Often it might also so happen that you are not in the mood to go to the spa because simply, you are too tired after a long day at work. Ironically, these long working days are the ones when you need a massaging session all the more. However, the good news is just round the corner. If you are looking for a nice back massage, you need to look no further. A back massager is the ideal device for you, if you wish to enjoy a relaxing massage that is equally good, if not better, than the services of masseurs, and that too, at the comfort and privacy of your bedroom. The advantages offered by the gadget sure enough makes it a great one to have at home.

But, there are many more advantages of this too. Since the back massager can provide you a massage any time you want and that too at your home, you need not go out and look for a masseur any more. Are you feeling totally worn out after a strain-filled day at work? Get rid of excess stresses and achieve instant relaxation – all you need to do is bring the back massager out from the bag. A back massager can help you get rid of the aches too.

Powered by electricity, a back massager can help you get your back massaged at any place you like, and that too, for as long as you want. The handle is long and so it can reach easily the most difficult and hard-to-reach places. Users only need to switch the back massager on, adjust the vibration settings as per his/her needs, and then the person can sit back to enjoy the relaxing massage.

Apart from treating aches in the back muscles and the tendons, the massager also helps users to get a mental lift as well. Once the pains and aches in the back are gone, the person becomes truly cured, and as a result, becomes more lively – the force of life seems to come out and all this is thanks to the massager. This really makes it a superb gadget to keep at home.

While going on a vacation, do always carry your back massager care with your other luggage because this is very handy indeed. You can start having comfortable back massages, and do away with back pains, right now.

Posted by Kay Huna | in Back Problems | No Comments »

How Ergonomic Furniture Can Boost Employee Health and Safety

Sep. 3rd 2009

Industrial Revolution was first launched in the 18th and 19th centuries with the ultimate goal of changing the agriculture, manufacturing, mining and transport sectors. Since then, developments in industrialization are further materialized, making life easier in general. As technology advanced throughout. The use of ergonomically designed products has plenty of benefits. They mainly address routine tasks that can lead to disorientation and different repetitive stress injuries. Ergonomics is a term that refers to the study of designing tasks, products and environments to meet the demands of an individual’s safety and comfort. Its main purpose is to fulfill health and productivity through safe and user-friendly equipment. Some of the ergonomic office furniture widely available in the market today are Ergonomic keyboards and Ergonomic computer desk .

The purpose of Ergonomic keyboards is to avoid muscle strains. One of the most popular designs for these keyboards is the split keyboard. The split keyboards come in fixed or adjustable designs. Ergonomic keyboards may cost more than the usual keyboard cost and may take some time getting used to, but they are worth every penny as they make typing faster and easier. They are a great tool to prevent various muscular problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Another ergonomic office furniture designed for employees’ convenience is the Adjustable computer desks. They are also known as adjustable computer desks due to their multiple points of adjustability that are built to suit the needs of individuals of different heights. The armoire adjustable desks provide spaces for essential computer such as the keyboards, monitor, speakers and mouse. There are also cubicle designs that have a range of shelves and holes for wire connections. Some of these Ergonomic computer desk also have wheels beneath the legs for mobility. Other products available in the market include ergonomic chairs, mouse and keyboard trays.

Ergonomic office furniture are created to prevent strains and stress. However, it is not enough to rely on them alone since proper posture and movement are also a factor in achieving their expected end result. These ergonomic products can only guarantee reduced risks on health, comfort and muscle problems. It is a challenge to conventional ergonomic thinking as to how it can be improved further as well as putting certain recommendations for employees to practice for them to avoid wrong postures. A training program called the Alexander Technique is then proposed to address this problem. This program helps people develop coordination of thought and physical action for them to apply ergonomic principles in their lives, thus getting rid of harmful postures and movements.

In order to minimize the risk of various injuries, employees need to put healthy and safe posture into practice. No more slouching on your computer chair. Joints should be in proper angles. They should be about mid-point of movement range when performing work activities and should be specifically applied to the head, trunk, as well as upper limbs. In addition, reducing the number of continuous movements and minimizing the amount of stress applied to muscles when performing a specific task can also prevent musculoskeletal disorders. In addition to everything mentioned above, choosing the most appropriate design that suits your concerns is very imperative.

Ergonomists know that ergonomic products can take a lot of getting used to before its functions and purposes are greatly maximized. The benefits they bring, however, are far greater than the downsides. Despite the higher price as compared to the ordinary work equipments, Ergonomic office desks promotes good quality and comfort over cost. Moreover, it has already become an important aspect of furniture design; making employees more productive and focused. They also make work activities more pleasant and hassle-free.

Posted by Kay Huna | in Back Problems | No Comments »

Looking For Natural Back Pain Relief Treatments?

Aug. 25th 2009

What many don’t know is that treatments to back pains don’t have to involve pricey medications and surgery. Although not as popular as the often-advertised treatments, there are Natural Back Pain Relief remedies that are just as effective. Acupuncture is one such natural remedy. This originally eastern art curbs back pains. Music therapy is another, and is used with physical therapy to alleviate back pains. Other non-invasive treatments are massage therapy, chiropractic, and napropathy therapies. Herbal medicine also plays role, as back pains can be relieved through certain herbs, such as Arthcare Oil and Capsules, menthol, camphor, and Adhwagandha. Workouts such as stretching and bending exercises can also increase flexibility of the lower back, strengthen it, and reduce back pains.

Posted by Kay Huna | in Back Problems | No Comments »

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