Good Posture: A Stance for Better Health - Ideal Wellness Chiropractic Center in Itaewon Seoul

Good Posture: A Stance for Better Health

Straighten up with these expert tips

Please note: This article was published more than one year ago. The facts and conclusions presented may have since changed and may no longer be accurate. And "More information" links may no longer work. Questions about personal health should always be referred to a physician or other health care professional.

SATURDAY, Sept. 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Healthy posture is important for your well-being, but achieving it can be an uphill battle in a high-tech, high-heeled world, experts say.

"People who have better posture tend to appear more confident and knowledgeable to others. It makes them feel confident internally as well," said Alynn Kakuk, a physical therapist at the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program in Rochester, Minn.

Simple exercises and stretching can help your posture, she said.

One way to practice healthy posture is to stand with your upper back, shoulders and bottom touching the wall, with your feet a couple of inches away from the wall, she said in a Mayo news release.

There should be a slight space between your lower back and the wall, just large enough to fit your hands. Then, step away from the wall and try to see if you can maintain that posture.

It's also important to remember that strengthening your muscles will make it easier for you to maintain that healthy posture, Kakuk noted.

Frequent use of cellphones and keyboards can sabotage posture and place stress on the upper back and neck, leading to rounded shoulders and a lowered head. Try to keep your cellphone at eye level so that you're not bending forward, she suggested. Also, do exercises that strengthen your upper back and shoulders, such as chest exercises that strengthen your pectoral muscles and diaphragm-centered breathing techniques that release tension, she added.

Her other advice? Place your keyboard at elbow height, so your hands can rest on the desk. Position computer screens and laptops at eye level. Set your chair so that your feet touch the floor. Take a walk or stretch break every hour.

High heels also threaten good posture. When wearing high heels, draw in your abdominal muscles to prevent an extra curve in your low back. Ideally, you should try to limit use of high heels, Kakuk said. And when you do wear them, choose heels that are smaller and have a wider surface area, which will help distribute your foot and weight better.

Kakuk said maintaining good posture can help you walk, sit, stand and lie in positions that cause the least stress on your muscles and ligaments.

More information

The American Chiropractic Association offers tips for good posture.

SOURCE: Mayo Clinic, news release, September 2015

-- Robert Preidt

This article is from: https://consumer.healthday.com/bone-and-joint-information-4/backache-news-53/good-posture-a-stance-for-better-health-702514.html

Ideal Wellness Chiropractic Center in Itaewon Seoul (아이디얼웰니스 카이로프랙틱 센터)

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How Golfers Can Protect Their Backs - Ideal Wellness Chiropractic Center in Itaewon Seoul

Get in the Swing

How golfers can protect their backs

Please note: This article was published more than one year ago. The facts and conclusions presented may have since changed and may no longer be accurate. And "More information" links may no longer work. Questions about personal health should always be referred to a physician or other health care professional.

(HealthDayNews) -- Golf is often touted as a good way to get some exercise, enjoy a beautifiul summer day and have some fun. But, as with any sport, players need to be careful to avoid injury.

The American Chiropractic Assocation offers a few suggestions to help golfers keep their backs pain free: make sure the clubs you use are the right size; take lessons to ensure you have a proper swing; and pull, rather than carry that heavy bag.

Finally, the group warns that even riding in a cart can cause you pain from the bouncing. Instead, alternate walking and riding between holes.

-- Dan Berman

This article is from: https://consumer.healthday.com/fitness-information-14/golf-health-news-252/get-in-the-swing-507733.html


Ideal Wellness Chiropractic Center in Itaewon Seoul (아이디얼웰니스 카이로프랙틱 센터)


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Back Care for Travelers - Ideal Wellness Chiropractic Center in Itaewon Seoul

Back Care for Travelers

Stretch regularly when you travel long distances

Please note: This article was published more than one year ago. The facts and conclusions presented may have since changed and may no longer be accurate. And "More information" links may no longer work. Questions about personal health should always be referred to a physician or other health care professional.


(HealthDayNews) -- Long hours of travel, whether by car or plane, can be brutal on your back.



The Canadian Chiropractic Association suggests some ways to prevent and relieve the physical stress of traveling:

If you're in a car:
Stop every hour or so, get out of the car and stretch. Work your arms, ankles, and torso, and take a short walk.
If you can't stop, stretch in your seat. Tighten your calf muscles, hold for three counts, and release. Do the same for your thigh muscles. Roll your shoulders backward and forward a few times. Keep a loose grip on the steering wheel. Clenching it too tightly will tire your hands, wrists and arms.

If you're in a plane:
Every now and then, get out of your seat and walk down the aisle.
While sitting, tense and release the muscles in your legs and buttocks. Roll your shoulders backward and forward, and wiggle your fingers and toes.
When you put your luggage in the overhead bin, stand out in the aisle so you don't have to twist your back to get the bag over your head and into the compartment.

-- Felicity Stone

Last Updated: Feb 25, 2003

This article is from: https://consumer.healthday.com/bone-and-joint-information-4/backache-news-53/back-care-for-travelers-511849.html


Ideal Wellness Chiropractic Center in Itaewon Seoul (아이디얼웰니스 카이로프랙틱 센터)


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Don't Let Backpacks Lead to Back Injury - Ideal Wellness Chiropractic Center in Itaewon Seoul

Don't Let Backpacks Lead to Back Injury

Experts offers tips for avoiding problems

Please note: This article was published more than one year ago. The facts and conclusions presented may have since changed and may no longer be accurate. And "More information" links may no longer work. Questions about personal health should always be referred to a physician or other health care professional.



SATURDAY, Aug. 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Backpacks are convenient for students, but they can pose a threat to kids' backs, necks and shoulders if used improperly, an expert says.

In 2013, there were more than 5,400 backpack-related injuries treated in emergency departments across the United States, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

"In my own practice, I have noticed a marked increase in the number of young children who are complaining about back, neck and shoulder pain," Scott Bautch, of the American Chiropractic Association's Council on Occupational Health, said in an association news release.

"The first question I ask these patients is, 'Do you carry a backpack to school?' Almost always, the answer is 'yes,'" he said.

A backpack should weigh no more than 5 to 10 percent of a child's weight. And, the backpack should never be wider or longer than the child's torso, Bautch advised. Backpacks also should not hang more than 4 inches below the waistline.

Backpacks need wide, padded and adjustable shoulder straps, and children should always use both straps when wearing a backpack, Bautch said.

It's also important for a backpack to have a padded back. This improves comfort and also protects the child from sharp edges on pencils, rulers, books and other school supplies inside the pack.

Select a backpack with several separate compartments, which will make it easier to position the contents more effectively. Place pointy or bulky items away from the area that rests on the child's back.

One way to limit a backpack's weight is to ask your child's teacher if it's possible for the youngster to leave the heaviest books and electronic items such as laptop computers at school, and take home only lighter handout materials, Bautch said.

More information

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has more about backpack safety.

SOURCE: American Chiropractic Association, news release, July 24, 2015

-- Robert Preidt

This article is from:https://consumer.healthday.com/bone-and-joint-information-4/backache-news-53/don-t-let-backpacks-lead-to-back-injury-701717.html


Ideal Wellness Chiropractic Center in Itaewon Seoul (아이디얼웰니스 카이로프랙틱 센터)


www.idealwellness.co.kr

Back Pain may Raise Risk of Mental Health Problems - Ideal Wellness Chiropractic Center in Itaewon Seoul

Back pain may raise risk of mental health problems

Chiropractic Economics December 13, 2016

December 5, 2016—A study, involving almost 200,000 participants, finds that individuals who have back pain are more likely to also experience a range of mental health issues. Knowing about these links could form a more successful treatment plan for both sets of conditions.

Back pain is a leading cause of disability across the globe. In fact, it causes more global disability than any other condition. According to the Global Burden of Disease study, lower back pain affects almost 1 in 10 people. There is also a wealth of evidence that back pain negatively impacts quality of life and heightens the risk of other physical health problems. Additionally, it comes with substantial healthcare cost.

One earlier study of note used data from the World Mental Health Survey and found that chronic back or neck pain was associated with increased risk for mood disorders, alcohol abuse, and anxiety disorders.

Despite its high prevalence, little work has been done to investigate back pain’s links with mental health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).



The largest back pain-mental health study to date

The latest and largest study to investigate the connections between back pain and psychological illness in LMICs was published this week in the journal General Hospital Psychiatry.

The research team – headed up by Patricia Schofield and Brendon Stubbs from Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom – took data from 190,595 individuals aged 18 or older across 43 countries, making it the largest study of its type. Of the 43 countries, 19 were low-income and 24 were middle-income.

The team used data from the World Health Survey 2002-2004, a project set up by the World Health Organization (WHO) to “generate information on the health of adult populations and health systems.”

Overall, in LMICs, back pain affected 35.1 percent of the population, and 6.9 percent reported chronic back pain. Of the countries investigated, China’s levels of back pain were lowest, at 13.7 percent.

In some countries, more than half of respondents reported back pain; Nepal was highest with 57.1 percent. Similarly, 53.1 percent of Bangladeshis reported back pain, as well as 52 percent of people from Brazil.

Back pain and mental health

The analysis of the questionnaire data showed that, when compared with people without back pain, those who did experience back pain were more than twice as likely to experience one of five mental health conditions – anxiety, depression, psychosis, stress, and sleep deprivation.

People with chronic back pain were also three times more likely to experience a depressive episode and 2.6 times more likely to experience psychosis.

Interestingly, the results were relatively similar across all 43 LMICs, regardless of their standing on the socioeconomic ladder.

“Our data shows that both back pain and chronic back pain are associated with an increased likelihood of depression, psychosis, anxiety, stress, and sleep disturbances.This suggests that back pain has important mental health implications which may make recovery from back pain more challenging. The exact reasons for this are yet to be established.” Stubbs says.

Because the study used such a large group of people across a section of populations, the findings can be considered highly reliable. As back pain is so prevalent in LMICs (and the world at large), any connection to mental health needs to be thoroughly understood.

As Stubbs says: “Further research is required to find out more about the links between these problems and to ensure effective treatments can be developed. It is also important that healthcare professionals are made aware of this link to refer patients to other services if necessary.”

Source: Medical News Today

This article is from: http://www.chironexus.net/2013/07/alcohol-and-the-risk-of-back-pain/



Ideal Wellness Chiropractic Center in Itaewon Seoul (아이디얼웰니스 카이로프랙틱 센터)


www.idealwellness.co.kr

Common Painkillers Don’t Ease Back Pain - Ideal Wellness Chiropractic Center in Itaewon Seoul

Common painkillers don’t ease back pain, study finds

Chiropractic Economics March 2, 2017


Feb. 2, 2017—Painkillers such as aspirin, Aleve and Advil don’t help most people with back pain, a new review finds. The researchers estimated that only one in six people gained a benefit from taking these nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Meanwhile, previous research has suggested that another common painkiller, Tylenol (acetaminophen), isn’t very useful either, the study authors added.

The findings raise the prospect that no over-the-counter painkillers really ease back pain, at least in the short term, and some may raise the risk of gastrointestinal problems.


“There are other effective and safer strategies to manage spinal pain,” said review author Gustavo Machado. He is a research fellow with the George Institute for Global Health in Sydney, Australia.

Back and neck pain are the leading cause of pain worldwide, the researchers said.

For the review, the investigators examined 35 studies on the use of NSAIDs to treat back pain. The studies most commonly examined the drugs ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), cox-2 inhibitors (but not Celebrex) and diclofenac (which is available in the United States, but not widely known).

The studies, which tracked about 6,000 people, “showed that commonly used NSAIDs have only small effects on pain relief and improvement of function,” Machado said. “Moreover, these small effects may not be perceived as important for most patients with spinal pain.”

The researchers also found that participants taking the drugs were 2.5 times more likely to experience gastrointestinal side effects, compared with those who took inactive placebos.

The review only included studies of people who took the drugs for an average of seven days.

“Unfortunately, there are no studies investigating the effects of NSAIDs for spinal pain in the medium-term (three months to 12 months), and the long-term (more than 12 months),” Machado explained.

Benjamin Friedman is an associate professor of emergency medicine with Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. He estimated that the painkillers might be even more ineffective than the review suggests, with fewer than one in 10 patients getting substantial relief.

What should patients with back pain do? Friedman said he often recommends the drugs even though they’re not likely to provide benefits.

“The happiest back pain patients I know are the ones who have found relief with some type of complementary therapy such as yoga, massage or stretching,” Friedman noted.

Study author Machado said, “Patients should discuss with their doctors whether they should take these drugs, considering the small benefits they offer and likelihood of adverse effects.”

As for whether opioid painkillers — such as Oxycontin — might work, he suggests that patients avoid them for back pain since research by his institute’s team has suggested they aren’t very effective either.

However, Friedman said they’re often prescribed for very brief periods for unbearable pain, along with physical therapy.

As for other suggestions, Machado points to guidelines that recommend patients with back pain remain active and avoid bed rest.

“There is also evidence that physical therapies and psychological therapies — such as cognitive behavioral therapy — bring benefits to these patients,” he said.

Also, Machado said, “people should focus on preventing back pain in the first place. Having a healthy lifestyle and engaging in physical activities is a very important way of achieving this.”

This article is from: https://www.chiroeco.com/common-painkillers-dont-ease-back-pain-study-finds/


Ideal Wellness Chiropractic Center in Itaewon Seoul (아이디얼웰니스 카이로프랙틱 센터)


www.idealwellness.co.kr

Alcohol and the Risk of Back Pain - Ideal Wellness Chiropractic Center in Itaewon Seoul

Alcohol and the Risk of Back Pain

Author: Marissa Luck 

 

Does regularly drinking alcohol increase your risk of back pain? Earlier research has shown that people who smoke are more likely to suffer from back pain and musculoskeletal conditions. Quitting smoking may even lead to an improvement in symptoms for patients with spinal pain. But can patients experience the same pain-alleviating effects by altering their alcohol consumption?

To answer that question, researchers from the University of Sydney performed a meta-analysis of 26 studies on the relationship between back pain and alcohol consumption.

Nine of the cross-sectional studies showed a slight association between alcohol intake and low-back pain. However, this link was less strong after controlling for alcohol abuse and dependence. Additionally the remaining studies did not tend to show a significant correlation between drinking and back pain.About a third of the studies also looked at whether how often people drank affected their risk of back pain, but no substantial relationship was established.

“Alcohol consumption appears to be associated with complex and chronic LBP only in people with alcohol consumption dependence,” the researchers concluded. “Clinicians in the musculoskeletal field could use this information to design educational strategies for this population.”

It’s still unclear whether modifying alcohol consumption could have a direct impact on back pain, and researchers suggested the need for additional research.

Researchers also wondered whether moderate alcohol consumption could have a protective effect on the future risk of back pain, since earlier studies have shown that moderate drinking may ease fibromyalgia and prevent cardiovascular events.

This article is from: http://www.chironexus.net/2013/07/alcohol-and-the-risk-of-back-pain/



Ideal Wellness Chiropractic Center in Itaewon Seoul (아이디얼웰니스 카이로프랙틱 센터)


www.idealwellness.co.kr