New research is suggesting that bacterial infections might be the source of disc related pain. It’s an interesting mechanism – the bacteria, which exist in the mouth and hair, can be moved into the bloodstream by brushing of the teeth. They can be deposited into the disc as part of the body’s response to injury and once there can proliferate and be a source of pain. According to researchers, this could potentially be involved in up to 80% of back pain cases. The full article can be found here . I know …

The only thing I ever used to do with Watermelon was cut a hole in the top and pour as much vodka as I could inside. Then I found this recipe. Seeing as I was effectively living in a sauna, I probably ate this once or twice a week – it’s light, fresh, easy to make, and delicious. It’s a great way to cook the salmon and means you cook it perfectly each time, and the dressing for the salad (Green Chilli Nahm Prik) can go on any dish you …

I read an article that cited the statistic that 50% of 18-34 year olds regularly suffer from back pain. I know that nearly half of 40-49 year olds have evidence of arthritis in their back so I can understand 50% of 40-60 years olds suffering from back pain on a regular basis, but why are so many young people suffering from it? And is there anything we can do about it?
According to the article it all stems from the increased amount of time young people spend sitting. From school aged …

Woohoo, here’s me looking proud as punch after being notified that I have been nominated to the list of Leading Health Professionals Of The World 2011. Can’t wait to tell mum and dad so they can brag to the neighbours…

You’ve all probably heard a million times about how you need to strengthen your “core” to support your lower back. And it’s true. The “core” abdominal muscles, such as transverse abdominus and multifidus, play an active role in the strength and stability of your lower back, and there have been countless studies to support the idea that improving their strength helps your lower back.
Which makes me slightly loathe to write this, because this article might give one or two of you an excuse to slacken off. Don’t get me wrong, …

Following on from my last article on the risks associated with the use of common over the counter anti-inflammatory medications, I wanted to see what the other options were and more importantly, how effective they are. I found an article which compared the results of 47 different studies on the effectiveness of different forms of ‘non tablet’ anti-inflammatories, ie gels, sprays, and creams. The attraction of these options is that there are none of the associated systemic adverse events.
The results of 47 studies were included. In these studies, the gels/creams/sprays …

We’ve all wondered what, if any effect they have on kids backs. Now a new study has shown the level of compression kids experience when carrying a heavy backpack.
Let’s start by pointing out that this study was only done on 8 children, so we should be careful about generalising these results to everyone. But from what I read in the study, they were 8 normal enough kids, average age 11, average weight 40kg. The researchers did an MRI image of their lower back before they were carrying anything, then gave …

This is not a sponsored link, I just really like this site. badbacks.com.au offers a wide range of back pain related products:
Pillows/Beds
Computer Workstation/Ergonomic Equipment
Braces/Straps/Supports
Hot and Cold Therapy (Ice Packs/Wheat Bags etc)
Inversion Beds
Sports (Taping, Gels)
Rehab Equipment
There is a store in Alexandria you can go to if you want to check out or try any of the products.

More people miss work for back pain than any other ailment except the common cold. These are just some of the disorders associated with Office Tasks: Neck/shoulder tension, Headache, Tendinitis of the wrist & forearm ,Carpal tunnel syndrome, Mid back/shoulder blade pain, Lower back pain, and Sciatica.
The Number 1 mistake people make is that they sit in one position for too long.
Studies have consistently proven the amount of time you sit at the computer (hours keying per day/per week) is more important than posture. And the studies have shown that …

So sitting at work all day is no good for you. Duh. Now what can we do about it?
It is essential to break the cycle of repetitive strain, muscle fatigue, and pain. To do this we should recharge our muscles and take strain off our joints and discs every 20 minutes. Even if just for 10-30 seconds!
The first and most important thing to do is to stand up frequently. Micro breaks every 20 minutes are crucial to preventing the muscles from tightening.
Simply standing up and extending the lower back a …