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 …

The first thing I usually advise people to do when they are in acute pain is to get into the “Astronaut Position” http://familydoctor.org/online/etc/medialib/famdoc/images/100-200/117b.Par.0001.Image.250.gif
10 minutes in this position will let the back muscles relax and help correct the hyperextended position most people adopt when their back is killing them.
Try not to annoy your back by testing it out all the time eg “Does it hurt when I twist here, does it hurt if I bend there?” etc. But try not to sit around too much either; I would try to be …

If you want to give your self the best possible chance at preventing disc degeneration, follow these guidelines:
Low back flexibility – stretch low back muscles (eg rolling knees side to side), glutes (eg hugging your knee to your chest), hip flexors (eg lunge stretch), and hamstrings.
Core Strength – Deep abdominal strength/endurance as developed in Pilates; see figure (from http://www.nismat.org/ptcor/lbp involves drawing in your abdomen to contract the deep abdominals – get me to check you are doing it right next time you come in!)
Use correct Lifting Technique. Don’t combine movements …

I recently read a really interesting study on Disc Degeneration, and what causes it (I know, I need to get a life). As a lot of you either have a little degeneration or are concerned about it developing I thought I’d share the findings of this study.
The first interesting point worth noting is that degeneration is a Progressive Process – ie it is not a one off event. Over time, repeatedly doing everyday activities can cause the structure to fail and this will accelerate the aging/degeneration process.
The study says looking …

What I’m going to look at in this posting relates to how quickly one should start addressing a complaint of low back pain. Historically, people suffering from low back pain have been told to rest, sometimes for very long periods. It’s time to right this wrong.
I have treated plenty of people who 20 years ago were given a neck collar for a minor car crash and wore it for 3 months despite no evidence of any tissue damage, “just because that was what they did back then”. And plenty of …

In my last post I wrote about how much better off you are getting treatment for low back pain rather than just waiting for it to get better, and in this post I’m going to follow on from that by discussing the results of a study which has found that you are better off staying active than resting.
Now, it may not seem terribly important, I mean, how bad could a couple of days on the couch be? Well, here are the stats: “more than three quarters of individuals will have …