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bluefin
Apprentice
8 Posts
9/13/2005 10:46:42 AM |  Until quite recently, doctors used to advise complete bed rest for backache victims. Rightly or wrongly, it became firmly linked in the public's mind with the work shy. Now it is all change. The more active you can remain, the better.
Dr Loic Burn said the new international guidelines for the treatment of back pain are based on evidence that clearly shows that the more active you can be with back pain the sooner you recover.
'The best medical advice is to take painkillers at once at the full dosage.'
Dr Sager agrees and puts it even more strongly. 'You should take paracetamol or ibuprofen at the maximum dose. There is no use in pussyfooting about or indulging in self-martyrdom. You have to really attack the pain, which can be quite bad. Being as active as you can and taking the painkillers cannot possibly do you any harm and you will be back to living a normal life more quickly,' he said.
Evidence also shows that manipulation does work for back pain specially if it is given in the first two weeks after an attack. Dr Loic Burn says that it doesn't matter who does the manipulation as long as they have been trained. It can be a chiropractor, osteopath, physiotherapist or a doctor. It works equally as well and is equally as safe.
Some people try age-old remedies like sleeping with a board under their mattress. 'It's fine to try it,' says Dr Burn, 'but if it doesn't work, move on and try other things. The best approach is to stay active and be proactive in looking for something that stops the pain. Since we don't know the cause of back pain, we have to be open-minded on methods of treatment and look at every case on its merits.
'There are medical treatments that involve epidural or spinal injections but they don't always work. Spine-fusing surgery is a last resort and only given to one in 10,000 patients. It is a very radical step considering we don't understand the causes of back pain and the results aren't always wonderful,' he said.
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tiadesai
Newbie
2 Posts
8/30/2005 3:06:27 AM | xercise your back
* Improvement in general fitness helps to reduce and prevent back pain.
* Regular back exercises will help to:
o strengthen muscles supporting the back
o stretch tight joints, muscles and ligaments
o increase mobility
o improve posture
* Start with three to five of each exercise daily and gradually build up to 10.
* Discontinue any exercise that causes pain, severe discomfort, leg numbness or tingling.
Some back exercises
Knee to chest
Bend one knee up towards the chest and hold with hands for a count of five. Slowly straighten the other leg along the floor. Hold for five counts. Return to starting position, then repeat on opposite side.
Pelvic tilt
Tighten buttocks and stomach muscles so that the lower back flattens and the pelvis tilts upwards. Relax. Tilt pelvis downward by arching the lower back off the floor. Relax.
Knee rolls
Roll both knees to one side, then to the other. Keep elbows on the floor.
Semi sit:ups
Tuck in chin, slowly lift head and shoulders by stretching both hands between knees. Lower shoulders (keep chin in), stretch both hands to the right and left knees. Lower completely. Relax
Bridging
Slowly peel buttocks and back off the floor. Lower slowly, stretching spine along the floor.
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eazye
Myfit Expert
78 Posts
9/14/2004 12:13:26 PM | I would recommend low stress activity to help you lose the initial weight gain. Swimming, bikins, and walking are great activities for someone in your postion. As well, if you don't want to do them alone, they are activities that can be enjoyed as a solo or in a group. Try doing these cardio activities before trying resistance exercises. However, if you are eager for them, I would first recommend doing some in a pool by using bouys, planks, or water weights. By performing them in the water, there will be less stress on your lower back from gravity. Good luck!
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