Someone recently asked me what’s the most popular piece of advice I give patients with back pain. Although you might think it’s advise on how to stretch or strengthen your back, both of which are important, getting out of chair properly seems to resonate the most with patients. Most likely because its a piece of advise that is used multiple times throughout a day, but also it usually provides patients with instant, albeit short term, pain relief.
So here are some tips on how to get our of a chair and decrease lower back pain.
1. Ensure that feet are firmly on the floor and approximately shoulder width apart.
2. Slide your bottom to the front of the chair
3. If arm rests are available place both hands on the arm rest. If there are no arm rests, then place both hands on the edge of the chair.
4. Keep the spine in a neutral position, do not lean forward. (This is a very important step. Leaning forward can compress the spine and discs within the spine which can cause pain)
5. Push down through your arms as you help unload your weight off the chair.
6. As you are pushing down through your arms, also push through the heels of your feet and straighten the legs, while letting go of the chair with your hands.
7. Stand up straight.
Other important tips; ensure you are not holding your breath while getting out of the chair and try to engage your core muscles throughout the movement to reduce pressure on the spine.
These tips may not help all types of back pain but for general pain this can reduce discomfort while reducing pressure and compression of the spine.
I, like many other health care professionals, have been taught to ice all acute injuries. By acute, I’m referring to traumatic injuries that have occurred within 48 hours. Pain is usually sharp in nature and may be associated with swelling. With acute soft tissue injuries the first line of defence is ICE and the acronym RICE is usually applied : Rest Ice Compress Elevate. Ice is thought to reduce inflammation or swelling which can help to decrease pain. Makes sense right? Nots so fast. Rest – that could lead to muscle atrophy and joint stiffness. Ice and compression can restrict blood flow and limit the bodies ability to flush out the inflammation on its own. All this can create more pressure in the area, ultimately causing pain while reducing healing. So what now?
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How many of us have that aunt or grandparent who believes they can predict the weather based on the amount of discomfort in their knees or hands? Well, there just may be some truth to their claims.
As the extreme cold weather continues to embrace our city, more and more patients are coming into the office complaining of joint pain and stiffness. Last year’s polar vortex had similar results, the amount of joint complaints seemed to double over the colder months. So, is there a link between joint pain and a drop in temperature?
Get the answer and more on By Blacks. Continue Reading…
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