One of my favorite back stretching exercises I use, the Back Twist will work your lower back, neck, upper back, waist and hips.

It works in a side twisting action, which is rhythmic and gentle, and limbers the muscles, aligns the vertebrae, boosts the blood circulation and loosens the hips.

But, if you think you might have problems with your neck or back, you should talk with a health professional before trying it.

Back Twist Exercise

1. Keep your feet parallel and your back straight, with the shoulders as apart from each other as possible.

Bend your knees a little.

Let your weight on the legs.

Keep your hands by your sides, hanging loosely.

Look in front of you.

2. Twist your head and upper body (gently) to your RIGHT, until your look is directly behind you.

Don´t do anything special with your hands and arms, just allow them to move on their own, based on the turning movement of the upper body.

Your feet and legs should be kept towards your front all this time, since only the arms and body move.

To make it easier to be straight while doing this exercise, without swaying forwards or backwards, just imagine that your body has a pole in the middle of it, running from the ground, through your spine and up to the top of the head. And, your body twists around the pole in this exercise.

3. Turn back to the front slowly, then keep going and tun to the LEFT, in the same way, until you´re looking behind you, just like you did before. Keep doing this, moving from one side to the other.

Don´t forget that the arms should move naturally, without you interfering in any way. Do the exercise in a continuous movement, without pausing. Build up the torque and speed from the upper body and hips GRADUALLY. Doing this will make the hands to slap your sides and the arms to swing wider.

Start from doing 10-15 twists for each side, and in time get to 30-40 for each side. It shouldn´t take you more than a few minutes.

Don´t stop suddenly when you´re finished with the exercise. Instead, slow down gradually, then return to the position where you started (step 1), leaving your arms to swing until they return to your sides naturally. Take a few deep and slow breaths.

Check out more back stretching exercises that are simple for anyone to do at home at my natural back pain relief site.

Posted: February 9th, 2009 under Uncategorized.
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Surgery May Not Be The Right Treatment For Back Pain

It used to be that if a person had a lot of back pain their doctor would recommend surgery to fix the problem. Following the surgery, the person would usually be on bed rest for a few weeks, and then, if all went well, their back would be better – unless it wasn’t. In the past, experts agree, there was too much back surgery done. Most people weren’t any better after the surgery, and many were worse.

Now, research has shown that most back pain, even lower back pain, will resolve itself without surgery, given rest and time. In fact, for most back pain, all other options should be tried prior to scheduling surgery on the back. Less than one percent of all people ever actually need surgery for their back pain, though four out of every five people have back pain at some time in their life.

Who Needs Surgery?

Generally, physicians believe that surgery should only be considered if other methods have been tried and were unsuccessful at relieving the back pain (or the pain returns), the pain is significantly affecting a person’s day-to-day life, or if left alone the back condition could deteriorate into a more serious state.

Non-Surgical Treatments

Physical therapy can be a great way to help the back and spine heal. Along with special, specific exercises, often the physical therapist will use other modalities, such as heat or cold therapy (reduces inflammation, pain and muscle spasms), ultrasound (uses sound waves to head and encourage circulation and reduces inflammation, pain and muscle spasms), massage, spinal traction, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) (uses a painless electrical currently on certain nerves to relieve pain and improve mobility of the back) and water therapy.

Some patients find relief by using medication to relieve their back pain. There are many kinds, some over the counter and others prescription. They include muscle relaxants, analgesics and NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

Spinal injections can relieve pain and help the doctor determine the reason for the back pain. Two kinds are Facet Joint Injections and Epidural Steroid Injections. Spinal injections are not used alone, but are used along with physical therapy and exercise. They should always be recommended or prescribed by your doctor.

Often, chiropractic care can help relieve back pain. They can palpate, apply pressure, manipulate, massage and use other methods to re-align the vertebrae of the spine.

Other methods for dealing with back pain are considered alternative medicine. They include acupuncture, certain herbal medicines and biofeedback. If you use one of these therapies, be sure to have a reputable practitioner.

Learn How To Eliminate Back Pain-Click Here!

Posted: December 9th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
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More than 65 million Americans suffer from back pain every year. Back pain can develop anywhere from the neck to the lower spine. It is an all-too-familiar problem that can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain that leaves you incapacitated.

Back pain should not be equated with a need for bed rest. Treatment is usually only necessary for chronic back pain, which is pain that lasts for more than 3 months. It can also directly result from disease of the internal organs, such as kidney stones, kidney infections, blood clots, or bone loss. Back pain is extremely common in today’s society.

Back pain can come without warning, and it can be debilitating especially if you have to concentrate on your work. It is the second most common reason people visit their family physician (just behind upper respiratory infections). It could be acute or chronic.

Chronic back pain can be treated with or without surgery, although doctors usually recommend non-surgical treatments first, and can be caused from a wide array of conditions. It is the involuntary, habituated contraction of muscles induced by emotional issues, stress and an ongoing reaction to the pain (except where there is a severe physical injury or a documented disease process). It tends to last a long time, and is not relieved by standard types of medical management.Chronic back pain can become a lifelong burden for the patient.

Lower back pain can occur in people who are overweight, in poor physical shape, have poor posture or are compelled to sit or stand for long periods of time. It is one of the most common causes of job-related disability and why some people miss work.

Back pain can develop anywhere from the neck to the lower spine. It is an all-too-familiar problem that can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain that leaves you incapacitated.

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Posted: December 5th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
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Since four out of five of people have back pain, often lower back pain, sometime in their life, we should know what causes it and how to avoid it.

Causes Of Lower Back Pain

As we get older, our bodies tend to lose their muscle elasticity and tone, as well as bone strength. The discs in our spine lose fluid and flexibility, and they can’t cushion the vertebrae as well anymore. Aging is one reason we get lower back pain.

If the muscles or ligaments in the back have a spasm, sprain or strain, the discs in the spine can rupture or bulge. That puts a lot of pressure on the nerves that are based in the spinal cord. When there is compression or irritation in those nerve roots, the back complains by giving us pain. What causes the back spasm, sprain or strain? Usually some form of trauma or injury, for example attempting to lift something too heavy, or overstretching.

Degenerative diseases like arthritis or osteoporosis can also cause lower back pain. Other potential factors are congenital abnormalities in the spine, viral infections and irritation to the joints and discs.

Some life conditions can also contribute to lower back pain. These include smoking, obesity, pregnancy weight gain, poor physical condition, stress, poor posture and poor sleeping position. Oftentimes, lower back and hip pain go hand in hand. If the body has scar tissue from previous injuries, buildup in the area can, over time, weaken the back and contribute to more serious injuries.

When To Worry About Lower Back Pain

If your lower back pain in accompanied by some other symptoms, it is time to take things more seriously and consult your primary care physician. The symptoms to watch out for include fever, pain while coughing, loss of bladder control or bowel control, progressive weakness in legs. These can indicate a pinched nerve or similar situation. If a person has diabetes, back pain can be related to neuropathy.

Avoiding Lower Back Pain

If you take proper care of your back in your day-to-day life, you can avoid lower back pain. If the back pain is recurring, there is a good chance it is from poor body mechanics. Be sure to have correct posture and to lift with your legs (instead of using your back), as well as strengthening your back with exercises. Be sure that your workplace follows healthy ergonomics, planning ahead by having furniture and tools and such to avoid injury, as this can protect the body from lower back pain.

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Posted: December 4th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
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