Tag Archives: back

Crack-a-lackin

Snap!  Crackle!  Pop! It’s the sound I wake up to every morning and continue to hear throughout the day. And not because I gorge on Kellogg’s Rice Krispies. Nope. The crack-a-lackin is coming from my daughter’s… wait for it… back. Yes, my 8-year-old twists, turns, bends, bangs, and hangs her body in the most frightening ways imaginable to get her cracking fix. She claims her bizarre manipulations ease the tightness she experiences in her lower back.  However, my theory is that she is addicted to the sound more than the actual feeling. I recently consulted a pediatrician about my daughter’s … Continue reading →

Weightlifting to Alleviate Back Pain

Forget about paying $100 for a 60-minute massage; according to a new study you are better off lifting weights to ease lower back pain. Researchers from the University of Alberta say people who add weight training to their fitness regime experience less back pain than those who participate solely on other forms of exercise, such as tennis, jogging or biking. The study followed people suffering with chronic back pain as they participated in a 16-week exercise program. The participants were split into two groups. The first group completed resistance training using dumbbells, barbells and other load-bearing exercise equipment. The second … Continue reading →

What Did I Do to My Back?!

Back pain is a pretty common complaint. But there isn’t just one type of back pain — and there isn’t just one thing that causes the problem. Here are three major causes of back pain. A sprain or strain is the most common cause of back pain. Tendons and ligaments are the stretchy stuff in your body that (among other things) hold the vertebrae of your spine in place and attach muscles to the spinal column. An injury or tear to a tendon, ligament, or muscle can cause some serious pain. Why? If these support pieces are weak or injured, … Continue reading →

Improve Your Posture in Just Ten Minutes

You don’t have to spend hours to improve your posture — and prevent back problems. In just ten minutes a day, you can straighten and strengthen your back. Every morning, take a minute to look in the mirror. Stand facing sideways and make sure everything is aligned. Your ears, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles should form a straight line. If they don’t, straighten up and see if you can get everything into place. Do this every day and your body will start to remember how it feels to be aligned correctly. When you get to work, check your posture. It … Continue reading →

Preventing Neck and Back Injuries

Did you know that 8 out of 10 people will see a physician for back pain some time in their life? As anyone who has had a problem with their back can tell you: it’s a problem, and it’s debilitating. Taking care of your back is serious business, but often we take it for granted. Often, a lot of our problems with our neck and back could be prevented if we were more aware of (and nicer to) our bodies. Let’s start with posture. Your mother, and your piano teacher, knew what they were talking about when they said “don’t … Continue reading →