December 5, 2008

Reader’s Digest Back Pain Page

The Reader’s digest website has an entire section of back pain relief information: Manage Back Pain. One of the pages mentions exercise:

One of the best ways to prevent back pain is to stretch and strengthen the muscles and ligaments of the back and abdomen, chest, and legs. Even if you are already suffering from back pain, it’s crucial to start an exercise program to build strength and then keep your back strong

From “Exercise is an Important Part of Managing Back Pain.

That is one of those “common sense” ideas that I find to be both right and wrong at the same time. Exercise is great. It can be a wonderful “positive addiction” and has many, many health and psychological benefits. I have personally had minor bouts of tightness and pain in my back that seemed to be relieved after exercising.

But I have to stress that the pain itself is not a result of lack of exercise and the exercise itself, does not make the back pain go away. Back pain is often related to the body working against itself. For example, you can sit for years at a computer and desk chair that accents a certain body habit such as having too much of an arch in your back. To compensate for this arch, your muscles have to work “overtime” to keep you upright. The muscles might even become partially frozen in this posture so that you feel pain when you stand up or move into some other posture. In essence, you have learned a pattern that is more or less functional for sitting, but not for walking, running, bending over and doing other tasks.

When you exercise, the same pattern that I mention above is present, so it is entirely possible to work out and stretch while maintaining the same more or less rigid configuration. Again, the exercise can help, but very often the underlying pattern is still there. You can work out and not change the pattern that was learned in sitting. The trick is learning NEW patterns of coordination, so that when you are sitting you are sitting in a way that is functional and does not cause undue muscles stress. Your muscles can relax more, lengthen, and then have more availability for moving in a variety of ways.

I have found that some type of sensory-motor feedback and exploration of new ways of moving is in order. As you may have guessed if you have read this website before, I think Feldenkrais-based practices are a useful way to begin. But there are many others.

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December 3, 2008

Site Update:

This website has been on the “back burner” for quite some time, and after nearly a year of neglect is getting some attention. I have recently created an update to the Feldenkrais-based back pain relief program. The new sessions can be done while sitting in a chair, such as an office or kitchen chair. And they are relatively short 15 - 20 minutes, making them easier to do at work as a quick break. Take a look, if you are interested, I have bundled the product as a simple add-on the original back pain relief series for an addition $2.00 (that could change at any moment): Eliminate Back Pain While Sitting.

I hope to share some new back pain research beginning in the new year.

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December 6, 2007

Free Feldenkrais Downloads for Back Pain

The Back Pain Foundation is pleased to announce two completely free and amazingly effective downloads for the elimination of back pain.

One session focuses on upper spine and neck movement and can be done while sitting in a chair. The other, “primary movements” of the back, requires you to be in a place where you can lie down on a flat, firm surface.

More details on the main site: Back Pain Exercise.

*Please note: The sessions are for informational and educational use only. The Back Pain Foundation website and downloads are not intended to diagnose any condition or to replace the advice of a doctor.

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November 28, 2007

New Article: Can Back Pain be Cured by Massage, Acupuncture, Chiropractic or Feldenkrais?

Back Pain Cured by Massage, Acupuncture, Chiropractic or Feldenkrais?

A new back pain article, with several research citations: “Alternative Back Pain Cure

cheers. I hope you find the article useful. - Ryan

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October 10, 2007

Back Pain and Aches near the kidneys

I noticed recently that many people seem to be find this site after searching for information on the back aches and pains that are near either or both kidneys. I add a page about the treatments for kidney infections (if you don’t simply have back pain there). You can find the information on kidney infections near the end of the lower back pain and kidney page.

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