Franklin Massage Therapy / Upper & Lower Back Pain
Upper and lower back pain seem to be inherent in
our Wester society today. From the hours of sitting in front of the computer (I'm just as guilty
as you,) to the sedentary lives and poor diet we live with, lower and upper back pain seem to come hand in hand. And...there's
something you can do about it.
Most of my cleints that have back problems are guilty of
one or more of these habits...poor posture and poor lifting technique. As far as your posture is concerned, please
take a look at the way you sit in your chair. Are your shoulders slumpped over? Is your head leaning over the
keyboard to read the screen? Are you leaning back too far in your chair and rounding your back? These are
very simple things you can look at to make sure your back is in a good position while you sit.
Did you know that for every inch you lean your head forward from it's center line, you add 10 pounds of weight to your
skull. So, let's do the math. Your head weighs about 10 pounds, so if you are leaning two inches forward,
your neck, shoulder and back muscles are having to hold up a 30 pound bowling ball on top of your body! Eventually your
back muscles are going to let you know that they're unhappy with the extra weight and give you a reminder...a back ache.
And now let's talk about lifting. We all know that we should "lift with
your legs." That means squat down, hold the item, and then stand up straight, usning your legs to lift the
object. But we've all done it....grabbed something off the floor quickly by bending over and up we go! And
then it happens. That burn you feel when the muscle tears...the pain that almost takes your breath away...and the realization
that you've just really hurt yourself. (My worst back injury happened in the spring of 1986 in Mobile, Alabama.
It was early morning and I bent over to pick up a camera lying on the ground. The pain was so tremendous that i will
never forget it!) So, the best way to avoid these injuries is to take your time and lift with your legs...and get help
lifing things that are just too heavy for one person to carry.
And did you know that massage
is a great way to help your upper and lower back? By relaxing these muscles and increasing the blood flow to the
muscle tissues, your body will help start a healing process. Either with deep tissue, acupressure or stretching techniques,
your tired and overworked muscles will get the nutrients they need to feel better. Of course, if you are experiencing
any kind of injury to your back, you should seek proper medical care from your healthcare practitioner. Severe back
pain can be serious, so please consult your physician prior to getting any kind of bodywork....and then get a massage!
) to the sedentary lives and poor diet we live with, lower and upper back pain seem to come hand in hand. And...there's
something you can do about it.