Massage Warsaw- Massage Therapy – Warsaw Acupuncture

Category: Lower Back Pain

  • Your Computer Is Hurting You

    The average person that comes in to see me is not an athlete, does not lift heavy objects, and cannot, for the life of them, understand why they are in so much pain. Truth is that you are more likely to suffer from that cushy desk job than from anything else.

    Simply sitting in front of a computer for hours on end day after day slowly but surely does some serious damage to the body.  Here is how:

    Headaches

    Look at the last picture of the evolution of posture.  Notice how forward the person’s head is; how his neck sort of sticks out; and how he seems to be reaching further towards the screen.  That head position that everyone uses today puts a huge load of stress on those teeny tiny suboccipital muscles that lie at the base of the skull.  These suboccipital muscles when they are irritated for too long respond by sending headache signals to the temples, the side of the head, the base of the skull.  It can almost feel like someone tightening a band around your head.  Ouch!

    Solution:

    1. Learn how to sit properly using basic ergonomic principles
    2. Keep your chin tucked in and stop inching your head toward the screen.  Perhaps it’s time to get a new glasses prescription or get a larger screen.

    Pain Between Your Shoulder Blades

    Notice how stretched forward his shoulders are?  How they kind of hunch forward and slouch?  This position keeps your chest muscles in a shortened, tight position, while stretching out the muscles in your upper back.  Yes, those rhomboid and trapezius muscles are being forced to work in a weakened, stretched out position.  They are also fighting a losing battle against tight, strong chest muscles.  The result is that the muscles between your shoulder blades will feel achy all the time.

    Solution:

    1. Stretch out your chest muscles, or try these chest stretches
    2. Strengthen your Upper Back Muscles with lat pulldowns, use a rowing machine, do any kind of lats workout

    Lower Back Pain

    Notice how the lower back is missing any kind of natural arch in this position?  See how it rounds forward?  This is reversing the natural lordotic curve of the lower back and puts extra pressure on the nerve and blood supply in the lower back.  Basically, pressure is being put on your discs (herniated disc, anyone?), nerves are starting to be pinched, and your lower back is starting to feel achy all over.

    Solution:

    1. Sit with your hips against the back of the seat and get a lumbar support

    Hip Pain

    All that constant sitting can be a pain in the butt.  The constant pressure compresses nerves and blood vessels.  It acts like a choke hold, preventing blood from flowing freely to the gluteal muscles.  A reduced blood supply means less nutrients and oxygen being pumped into your hip and leg muscles.  It also means that waste products are not being removed very effectively from your hips.

    Solution:

    1. Stretch out your hip muscles
    2. Learn these simple sitting exercises

  • Sitting Can Be Hazardous To Your Health

    Here is an interesting article on CBC.ca about a new study of the effects sitting has on your health.  There isn’t any information on the methodology of the study, but it still is nice to see a study that confirms what you think: Sitting strains your body, your muscles and your joints.

    Sitting may be a good way to rest your body when it needs it, but too much of it has the opposite effect.  The study measured increases in blood sugar level and decreases in good cholesterol.  Another study linked too much sitting with increases in obesity finding that a 2 hour per day increase in tv watching increases chances of obesity by 23%.

    Most of the clients that come in to see me for treatment of their chronic aches and pains don’t attribute their condition to marathons or extreme sports, but rather just sitting at work all day.

    Here is the article:  http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/06/10/sitting-health-physiology.html

  • Spinal Decompression

    Here is a news segment on CBC’s marketplace investigating the claims made by the Low Back Clinic about their spinal decompression machines.  The Low Back Clinic claims that they have an 80% success rate in treating low back pain.  The investigation makes the following allegations:

    • All claims are based on a study funded by the manufacturer of the product.
    • That study is not statistically significant or of sufficient quality to make those claims.
    • The Low Back Clinic, in their advertising,  is taking advantage of people that are vulnerable

    You can see for yourself.  Here is a link to the video:

    http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2010/stretching_the_truth/main.html

    My thoughts on the “investigation”:

    • It was fair journalism, but more than anything, it was great entertainment.  The piece targets the inner skeptic in all of us:  The desire to point a finger at a product or company and call them a bunch of crooks or snake oil peddlers.
    • Spinal decompression has been around for a long time and does have a therapeutic effect on herniated disc problems.  It has been referred to as traction for decades.  Usually you can find traction devices in the form of an apparatus that hangs you upside down.   The devices only cost a couple hundred dollars to purchase.  You can find them in many physiotherapist clinics, chiropractic clinics, and yes, I have one as well.  Many people even buy them for use at home.  They are relatively safe, but makes sure you talk to you doctor first, especially if you have a heart condition.  These are simple devices that resemble a swing set and look nothing like the Star Trek inspired machine at the Low Back Clinic (LBC).  The principle of why they work is essentially the same but they only use your body weight to perform the traction.  The most important difference is that we don’t charge $5,000 to use it.  It is included in the treatment as one of the many modalities you may receive.  And there are no straps, harnesses and hydraulics putting 100 lbs of force on your vertebrae.
    • Regarding the dangers of spinal decompression:
      • Re:  The lady with cancer that ended up with a crushed vertabrae.  It is easy to say in hind sight that it was obvious that she had cancer, but the truth is that the average client that comes in to see chiropractors or physiotherapists or RMT’s have already seen their family physician.  The average GP is so used to seeing low back pain that the last thing they might think of is cancer.  It is true that further down the line, the cancer might be discovered after further diagnosis and worsening of symptoms.  But often that discovery is after several misdiagnoses by General Practitioner’s (GP’s) about  the cause of the back pain.   A misdiagnosis by a GP does not mean that all doctors are incompetent frauds and a misdiagnosis by a chiropractor does not make him a charlatan.  (RMT’s have it easy, we’re not allowed to diagnose).  If the “investigation” pointed the finger at the chiropractor, it should also point the finger at the other medical professionals that misdiagnosed her back pain.
      • Re: the total lack of assessment done on the man that was first assessed and diagnosed by the orthopedic surgeon.    My question is if the man went in for his initial visit or if he went in for a free consultation.  In a free consultation, no assessments are done and the primary goal is to convince the patient to come in again for a paid initial visit.  In an initial visit with any chiropractor I have ever worked with, a minimum 30 minute thorough assessment is done.  It should also be noted that while an orthopedic surgeon may give a very thorough assessment, I have never received a full assessment by a GP.  Regardless, if that visit was in fact a paid initial visit it was incompetent, insufficient and irresponsible.
    • Here are my concerns about the LBC:
      • They should never advertise an 80% success rate.  That is misleading advertising, and especially dangerous when there isn’t research to back it up
      • They should have never said “virtually no side effects”.  Though technically allowable, it is not consistent with the professional standards of chiropractic.
      • The product is way overpriced as well.  $5000 for a treatment they could have included in their treatment with an RMT, chiropractor or physiotherapist?
      • The College of Chiropractors has a code of ethics which restricts these types of business practises.  Why did they let this happen?

  • Video: Exercise for Low Back Pain, Sciatica & Herniated Disc

    Here is a video for people suffering from lower back pain, sciatica or herniated disc pain. This is a great exercise because it is so gentle and safe. The exercise gently mobilizes the lower back vertebrae and lubricates the joints. It also eases the Lumbar Muscles.

    1. Check with a health care professional before you attempt these exercises to ensure that it is safe for you.
    2. Do the exercises slowly and gently.  Failing to follow the instructions or consult with a health care professional could cause your symptoms to worsen.
    3. Try to breathe  slowly and keep your body relaxed.  Do not tense up or hold your breath as this will invite muscle spasm.
    4. You should not feel any pain during the exercises.  If you do feel pain, decrease the range of movement by stopping before you get to the point of pain. Continue the exercise within the pain free range.
    5. If you cannot find a comfortable, pain free way to do these exercises, discontinue immediately and seek the advice of a health care professional.
    6. Do the exercises in a set of 1 minute for a minimum of 3 times a day for best results.

  • Video: Exercise for Sciatica & Disc Herniation

    Here are some exercises for Disc Herniation or Discogenic Sciatica.  The exercises are part of the McKenzie Method.  The exercises are an attempt to take pressure off the sciatic nerve by helping to mobilize the disc back into the place.

    1. Check with a health care professional before you attempt these exercises to ensure that it is safe for you.
    2. Do the exercises slowly and gently.  Failing to follow the instructions or consult with a health care professional could cause your symptoms to worsen.
    3. Try to breathe  slowly and keep your body relaxed.  Do not tense up or hold your breath as this will invite muscle spasm.
    4. You should not feel any pain during the exercises.  If you do feel pain, decrease the range of movement by stopping before you get to the point of pain. Continue the exercise within the pain free range.
    5. Stage one where the instructor is on his elbows is the safest position.  Do not attempt the other positions until you can do the previous position safely with absolutely no discomfort for 2 days.
    6. Be very careful about going into the position where you are supported by your hands.  Only do this position and the subsequent “side bending” pose when you are no longer in the acute or subacute phases
    8. If you cannot find a comfortable, pain free way to do these exercises, discontinue immediately and seek the advice of a health care professional.
    9. Do the exercises in a set of 3 for a minimum of 3 times a day for best results.
    10. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds each time.

  • Research: Lumbar Disc Herniation and Acupuncture

    The August 2007 issue of the Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, Volume 5, Number 4 had a study by Zhang Bi-meng, Wu Yao-chi and Shao Ping entitled “Treatment of lumbar intervertebral disk herniation with electric acupuncture “.

    A total of 200 subjects were studied with 100 subjects in the treatment group receiving electro acupuncture and 100 subjects in the control group receiving oral medicine.

    The acupuncture treatment group had an effectiveness rate of 86% while the control group had an effectiveness rate of 75%.