Lower Back Pain - Ankle & Foot Plantar Flexion

March 24th, 2008 roy Posted in Back Pain No Comments »

Patients with lower back pain due to L5 & S1 nerve root irritation often complain of calf cramps, especially at night. The strong calf muscles are responsible for you to be easily able to walk on your toes. These muscles are especially important in the push-off phase of walking on level surfaces as well as on inclines & steps.

To be easily able to test the strength of the calf muscles, the very best way is to have the patient stand on one leg. The patient then lifts the heel off the floor. Normally, there is at least a span of 5″ between the surface of the floor & the under surface of the heel.

When the patient is examined to walk on their toes, one has to assess not just the ability to perform this type of walking but the ability of the patient to raise the heel of the floor by about 4-5″.

Similarly, when the patient is instructed to walk on heels, there should at least be a span of 3-3.5 inches between the floor & the under surface of the big toe joint known as the first metatarsal joint.

The muscles that perform plantar flexion of the foot are:
- medial gastrocnemius (L5, S1 through the tibial nerve)
- lateral gastrocnemius (L5, S1 through the tibial nerve)
- soleus (L5, S1 through the tibial nerve)
- tibialis posterior (L5, S1 through the posterior tibial nerve)
- flexor digitorum longus (L5, S1 through the posterior tibial nerve)
- flexor hallucis longus (L5, S1 through the posterior tibial nerve)
- peroneus longus (L5, S1 through the superficial peroneal nerve)
- peroneus brevis (L5, S1 through the superficial peroneal nerve)

? 2007 copyright © all rights reserved http://www.stopmusclepain.com

Jennifer Chu, M.D. emeritus professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, pioneered eToims Twitch Relief Method that utilizes surface electrical stimulation to locate motor points (trigger points). The motor points are then stimulated to induce strong local muscle contractions, termed twitches. This results in reduced muscle pain & discomfort in the areas that were stimulated. The involved pain/discomfort-relieving mechanism is thought to include local muscle exercise & stretch effects.

eToims Soft Tissue Comfort Center? specializes in diagnosis & treatment which ends muscle discomfort & pain.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Consulting a Back Pain Doctor

March 18th, 2008 roy Posted in Back Pain No Comments »

A proper diagnosis is essential before you can have conventional medical treatment. When consulting a back pain doctor, it’s important to describe the type of pain you’re experiencing, as well as its intensity, since this will help the doctor to make an accurate diagnosis. Perhaps your pain is gnawing, pulling, burning, searing or stinging. You should attempt to use adjectives that can truly reflect the intensity of the pain.

The back pain doctor will give you a through physical examination, & he should be easily able to make at least a preliminary diagnosis. He will almost certainly recommend rest in bed, probably with a board under the mattress, though if your bed is firm you may not need a board.

In addition, your back pain doctor may prescribe some painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs & muscle relaxants or a combination of these. Muscle relaxants & some painkillers may affect your level of alertness. Do not actually be alarmed if you feel drowsy while taking them. However, you should avoid driving or engaging in activities that require high levels of concentration.

If you’re in severe pain, you’ll probably need a string analgesic to take regularly. Unfortunately, a practitioner who has not suffered from a bad :cry: back or acute sciatica may not appreciate the level of pain you’re experiencing & may not give adequate pain relief. Thus, you should not actually be afraid to ask for stronger painkillers if you feel the need to.

If you experience recurrent episodes of back pain, & your job entails lifting or carrying heavy objects, your back pain doctor will advise you to take time off work until you have fully recovered. Alternatively, if the attacks are becoming more severe & prolonged, he may discuss the possibility of returning to lighter duties or even changing jobs.

For more information on effective back pain remedies & quick cures for back pain or fun back pain exercises, you can visit this site: Back Pain Clinic

?Skyjoe. All rights reserved. This article may be freely distributed as long as it remains unaltered inclusive of the active links & the copyright © notice. No alteration is allowed without express written permission from the author.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Lower Back Exercise - The Key to Healing Back Pain

March 12th, 2008 roy Posted in Back Pain No Comments »

Healing Back Pain With Lower Back Exercises

A daily routine of lower back exercises can play a critical role in the overall function of the lower back. The spine is one of the most significant & complex structures in our body. Almost every movement we make in some way affects our spine, that is how central the spine is to our over all good health.

To achieve a strong, flexible & healthy back, it is vital that we pay attention to the lower muscles. There is more. These are better know as the abdominal muscles & provide important support for the lower back. Keeping these muscles strong, & properly balanced with lower back exercises is the key to getting rid of back pain.

Exercises to Heal the Back

Lower back exercises mainly consist of stretching & strengthening techniques, by performing this types of exercises we build up & nurture the muscles in our back in a way that will support an sustain proper posture & health.

Stretching Exercises

Stretching is the most powerful way to relieve pain from the muscles in the lower back. It develops flexibility in the spine & creates a condition for the back to heal. It’s probably the most significant activity you can perform to ensure that your back will be healthy for years to come. And so… So far so good. When we perform stretching exercises on the lower back it releases stored up tension in the muscles, which eliminates tightness & spasms which in turn eases pain.

Strengthening Exercises

Another important exercise activity is back strengthening, the spine or backbone is the chief support of the back so it must be strong. It’s very important not to over do it with these types of exercises as more harm can be done than good. For this reason it’s important lo listen to your body at all times while doing strengthening exercises.

Remember to do muscle stretching in your back before performing any strengthening techniques

The whole point with lower back exercises is to take it one step at a time, most people make the mistake of being too active too soon after back injury & suffer relapse after relapse as a consequence. It all comes down to knowing how much to do, when to rest, & for how long.

If you get into a habit of listening to your body on a regular basis, & apply muscle stretching followed by strengthening techniques, you’ll be easily able to heal your back pain & enjoy a stronger, more flexible spine than ever before.

Paddy Reilly suffered low back pain for years, & found relieve through Natural Healing Processes. http://www.lowerbackexercises.blogspot.com

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Some of the Many Causes For Low Back Pain in Women

March 5th, 2008 roy Posted in Back Pain No Comments »

According to medical studies, almost ½ of women in the age group of 45-64 & a third in the age group ranging from 16 years to 24 years, suffer either from upper or lower back pain. Often the lower back pain sufferers are in greater proportion then those suffering from upper back pain.

Generally, there’re many causes for low back pain in women, but the biggest single source is pregnancy. It’s said that 2 in every 3 women will suffer lower back pain in either their eighth or ninth month of pregnancy. And it’s easier to understand why.

As a baby grows inside the uterus, it expands outwards. In order to counter that outward or forward push, women naturally tend to pull themselves back. This forced push in the opposite direction not just causes immense strain on their backbones, but also stretches their abdominal muscles, hence, lower back pain ensues.

But then there’re other many causes of low back pain women. Some of these are:

After pregnancy, probably, weight is the second biggest reason for lower back pain in women. Excess weight causes pressure on the spine due to which women especially those who select to stay at home suffer from low back pain.

Menstruation cycle is yet another main cause for back pain in women.

Women who are stay-at-home moms, especially with younger children, suffer back pain. With constant baby care, they tend to develop acute lower back pain over time. There’re certain professions in which women workers suffer back pains in greater numbers than those working in other professions. There is more. These professions are health, retailing, banking, insurance & the hospitality industry.Of all the professional women, (female) nurses suffer the most. Every year thousands of them drop out of work due to constant back pain. Then in second position are those who work in clerical positions. Right. With constant sitting, sometimes up to three to four hours at a stretch cause immense low back pain.

Housework is another major cause for low back pain in women: With constant cleaning, washing clothes & dishes, it’s only natural that over a period of time, they develop a constant annoying aching back. And last but not least, there is this fashion thing. Doctors constant remind their female patients against wearing high heels as they cause immense strain on their pelvic areas, which in turn affects their backs. There is more. Tight clothes, especially tight pants also cause strain on their lower backs.

Zareen Khan has been a writer for http://www.finishbackpain.com for a while now & likes to base her articles on personal experience

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Tips & Exercises For Low Back Pain Sufferer

February 28th, 2008 roy Posted in Back Pain No Comments »

Having low back pain is becoming more & more of a problem now days especially for people who tend to slouch. This type of back pain is more frequent for people who work forty hours a week at desk because most of these people tend to be sitting in a slouched position. This is one of the main reasons why more & more people are diagnosed with low back pain problems.

Your Posture Important

Although the real cause for low back pain has not actually been found, there is little doubt that your posture plays an important role. And so… Slouching is one of the biggest factors contributing to your low back problems. One of the recommended things you should do would be to perform simple exercises for low back pain, this should help relief some of the pain you’re experiencing. Do you follow? These simple exercises for back pain are very simple & can be performed almost anywhere. These techniques should provide you with instant relief from your pain.

Low back pain is often the result of excessive flexion, & to get rid of it you’ll need to perform exercises for low back pain that will move the pain in another direction. Extension exercises are a very good & proven way to get relief. One exercise you should attempt is simply putting you feet spread apart & place you hands with finger pointing down. Once you’re in position attempt to bend you are your waist back & down as far as you can & stay in that position for a couple of seconds. Repeat this exercise a couple of times each day. This should help you get relief for your low back pain.

Another good exercise for low back pain is to lie down on your stomach. Once you’re in position start to raise your upper body with your elbow while arching your back. It’s very important when performing this exercise for low back pain to keep your hips on the ground & attempt to relax your back as much as possible. Keep that position for around thirty seconds. You should attempt to repeat this exercise until you’re able to hold the position for at least five minutes.

For some people performing exercises for low back pain everyday may not actually be a good thing for various reasons, in those cases you should seek an alternative treatment method. Whatever you chose to do, attempt to stop slouching, this should be a good start.

If you liked this article about exercises for low back pain you should visit my website for many more information about back pain relief Click the following link to learn about the various back pain relief options available to you.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

A Simple Back Pain Cure

February 22nd, 2008 roy Posted in Back Pain No Comments »

Back pain is a problem that millions of people deal with every day. There’re many reasons why a person could be suffering from this condition & the way to deal with it greatly depends on the cause of the problem. However, a simple proven back pain cure can be often used if you suffer from back pain due to overuse & straining your back muscles.

A proven back pain cure that is simple to perform involves finding a hard surface & lying down flat on your back. Next prop your knees up with pillows & if you’re more comfortable, you can rest your feet in a chair. This position takes the pressure off of your back muscles, which will help to alleviate the pain you’re experiencing. It’s best to stay in this position for as long as you can for the first couple of days. After this time, you’ll need to begin walking around & slowing working your back muscles again. Even if you still feel a little pain you should do this for a few minutes each hour to help strengthen your back muscles. Otherwise, they can become too weak & cause more problems.

If you do not have the time to rest as mentioned above, then over the counter medication may be an option for you… These include Tylenol, Aspirin, Motrin & Aleve. Both Motrin & Aleve have the ingredient ibuprofen which can assist reduce inflammation in the back area that is contribution to the pain. Due to this, if you can take products with this ingredient you may find them more beneficial. Other back pain cures include using a heating pad or ice pack & receiving a gentle massage. These cures can assist for the occasional back pain. However, if you experience pain often then you really need to attempt & find out what’s causing the pain you feel.

This is important because finding the source of the problem can assist you find a cure that works. By example, many people have back pain because they’re overweight. In this case you could lose a few pounds & this would probably help lighten the pain that you feel. Some times improving your posture when you’re standing or sitting can assist to eliminate pain in your back because it reduces the strain on your back. Exercising to improve your overall health & stretch your muscles can also reduce back pain. After trying these methods of back pain cures you still have problems, then it’s suggested that you see your doctor to determine if there is a more serious problem causing your condition.

Suffering from excruciating back pain? Looking for a dependable Back Pain Cure that actually works? To get reliable free results that will bring instant relief visit http://www.alleviatebackpain.net

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Alternative Medicine For Back Pain - Is it Effective or Not?

February 16th, 2008 roy Posted in Back Pain No Comments »

Now day’s alternative medicines for back pain are becoming more & more popular to help people with their back pain problem. The good thing about alternative medicines for back pain is that there is a very large choice of treatment compared to the more common allopathic treatments.

Is it For You?

For some people these types of treatment are just not the real thing or they’re just not comfortable using alternative medicines for back pain. The truth is that a lot of those treatments are very effective if you dare to use them. One of those particular treatments consists on working on the trigger points of your muscles that are connected to your nervous system. The system is very simple actually; they actually give an injection directly on the trigger point. This in turn will help reduce the electrical signal that is relaying the pain message to your brain. The only disadvantage about this kind of treatment is that it may take more than one session to get rid of your back pain.

Herbs

Another alternative medicine for back pain is to use herbal medicine. You see there’re plenty of herbs that have anti-inflammatory properties that, if taken in large enough amount, could be help you get relief from your back pain. Some of the most popular herbs are:

- Chamomile (Very good to help calm the muscle tissue)
- Bromelain (That comes from pineapple, contains anti-inflammatory properties)

Aromatherapy

This type of alternative medicine for back pain can be often used by applying certain type of oil in correct proportion to help your muscles relax. The following type of oils are believed to be very effective at relieving tension in your muscles:

- Thyme
- Horse balm
- Rosemary
- Sage

All these type of oil have in them a natural compound such as thymol that help you muscles relax. It’s highly advised to apply these oils after your bath because your skin pores will be open & your muscles relaxed.

Over time the benefits of using alternative medicine fro back pain as proven to be very effective in relieving the pain & release the tension in the muscles.

If you’re tired of suffering from back pain & would like to finally get rid of it, click the following link to discover the truth about Back Pain Relief.

If you liked this article about the Alternative Medicines for Back Pain, visit my website. And so… So far so good. We provide useful information about the best back Pain Relief available.

Click Here to Discover The Truth About Back Pain Relief.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

How To Get Relief From Back Pain Without Drugs

February 10th, 2008 roy Posted in Back Pain No Comments »

If you’re amongst the people who suffers from chronic back pain or lower back pain there’re many ways for you to get relief from back pain without taking drugs. So… Some of those methods are pure garbage & do not work while others are very effective. One of those methods is called IDD (Intervertebral Disc Decompression). Doctors have been using this technique successfully to help patient get relief from their back pain without any drugs. Unfortunately there’re a very small number of those machines according to the doctors at the Advance Physical Medicine center.

High Success rate

The patients that have been treated with these machines were able to get relief from back pain without drugs, & on top of that the relief isn’t temporary. The success rate of this type of treatment has been around eighty-five percent. The doctors have been able to reduce the size of the injured disc to help the surrounding tissues to work normally again. This kind of treatment helped a lot of people get relief of back pain without drugs & actually helped them avoid surgery in some cases. There is more. This new technology is revolutionary & can assist patient suffering from:

- Degenerative Discs
- Spinal Stenosis
- Sciatic cases
- Chronic back pain
- And more

This particular methods uses an Accu-SPINA system that is used the very latest computer technology to reshape the spine. This method to get relief from back pain without drugs apply traction to the affected area that causes you pain. By applying negative pressure, the tractions have the effect of enhance the flow of blood, fluids & nutrients into the wounded discs in your back. This whole process will provide support to the muscles & tissues in your back helping them retone themselves. There is more. This type of treatment is usually taken between eighteen & twenty-four times over a period of eight weeks.

The advantages about this type of treatment to get relief from back pain without drugs are:

- Painless
- Less Expensive than surgery

On the other hand the machines are available in small number & this type of treatment is usually not reimbursed by medical insurance.

If you liked this article about how to get relief from back pain without drugs, visit my website form more information about the various back pain relief options available for you… We offer quality information about the different back pain types & offer quality treatments at very low cost. It is simple they work or you get your money back.

http://www.BackPainReliefpro.com

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Do You Really Need A Back Pain Specialist?

February 4th, 2008 roy Posted in Back Pain No Comments »

Since back pain is such a common illness, one might assume that your general practitioner or internist is an expert when it comes to treating your back. This is not necessarily true. Nevertheless, starting with your primary physician is the place to rule out other problems that may affect your spine, such as pain originating elsewhere in your body that may afflict the back. While a general practitioner isn’t a back pain specialist, he can diagnose a pinched nerve or disease that may produce back pain. Many times, a trip to your primary caregiver resolves the backache issues. But if the back pain still persists, you’ll most probably be referred to a specialist.

In most cases, your family doctor is likely to refer you to a chiropractor, a back pain specialist who is capable of treating acute back pain. One of the benefits of seeing a chiropractor is that he does not emphasize on drugs to mask pain symptoms & often offers non-surgical treatments.

Another type of back pain specialist that is recommended for back pain relief, is osteopaths. An osteopath looks at a patient’s environment, such as stress & accidents, along with the psychosocial as well as the physical factors. Even though an osteopath may prescribe medication or surgery, his emphasis is on correcting the structural problems in the body.

Back pain sufferers prefer physiatrists, as they’re adept at treating back & neck pain with a variety of non-surgical options, including physical therapy & injections. So… Some physiatrists have a subspecialty in sports medicine while others can administer injections, such as epidural braces. There is more. These back pain specialists are also likely to tailor an exercise program for your backache.

In addition, an orthopedist is a specialist that often treat a range of maladies, from the simple back pain, herniated disk with a pinched nerve to intense spine abnormality & disorders. There is more. They may prescribe drugs or request a complete workup to include a standard orthopedic test, a CAT scan or an MRI. If you need surgery of any kind or a ruptured disc, seeing an orthopedist is your best option.

For more information on effective back pain remedies, quick cures for back pain or fun back pain exercises, you can visit this site: Back Pain Clinic

?Skyjoe. All rights reserved. This article may be freely distributed as long as it remains unaltered inclusive of the active links & the copyright © notice. No alteration is allowed without express written permission from the author.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

How a Back Pillow Relieves Your Pain

January 29th, 2008 roy Posted in Back Pain No Comments »

Back pain from sitting comes on fast & it will not get better until you take some action. You feel achy to begin with & then the pain increases to where that is all you think about. You feel more tired & your efficiency at work suffers. Alleviating back pain caused by sitting in a car, office chair or at home, may be as simple as purchasing a pillow designed for that purpose.

Sticking a regular over-stuffed pillow in your back may not cost anything but it’s a temporary solution. You can feel a difference when you have a well-designed back pillow.

Your lumbar region is about an inch below your belly button. That is where the pain is & where the pillow should go. Back pillows ergonomically designed hit that spot just right. Always seek a doctor for medical advice especially if pain doesn’t go away.

What is the cause of back pain that can be cured by a pillow. This is caused by the spine being thrown out of alignment by bad :cry: posture, twisting, & slumping. These are all habits to be avoided. Have you ever seen a photo of a spinal column. We were told to stand tall by our parents so much that we think our spines are straight, but they’re not. Our spines have three major curves. These curves help us to be more flexible but also cause a lot of trouble in the form of pain. The curves in our spines need to be kept as much as possible in their natural form. One of the ways we do that is to give our lumbar curve support while sitting.

When you sit, all the pressure goes to the lower back. If you’re sitting on a too soft surface, you additionally twist your spine. If you slump, you curve your spine the opposite way nature intended. All of this causes pain in the most vulnerable spot–your lower back. Fill the lumbar curve with a well designed back pillow to maintain the natural curve of the spine. In addition, have a support pillow for your seat if it’s too soft. Some pillows have the seat & back connected to give total support to the spine.

When choosing a pillow, think in terms of a soft or hard one, & a small or large one. A soft one would be made of memory foam, air or buckwheat hulls, & a firm one of hard foam or wood. Which one you select is a comfort issue because your body knows. In general, a smaller person with a lightweight body will prefer a soft pillow & a large or big framed person will want something firmer & with some side support, too.

The pillow you select doesn’t have to be the most expensive one. Any pillow, large or small, designed to support the curve in your back, & feels comfortable, should relieve your pain.

For more information on back pillows, go straight to http://www.pillowfitter.com/backpillow.html

AddThis Social Bookmark Button