There are several things you can do to prevent back pain. One of the biggest things is core strength. Lots of jobs involve sitting for long periods of time and this can lead to a weakening of the core. Your Woodbridge, Dale City VA chiropractor has a few tips to help you strengthen your core and prevent injury.
Easy to learn and perform, Supermans strengthen the often-neglected lower back, a common source of pain. They also provide a great full-body stretch to finish up your workout.
Lie with stomach on ground, arms extended overhead and legs straight
Raise arms and legs as high as possible and hold for five to 10 seconds; keep arms straight and core tight
Slowly lower and repeat for specified reps
Sets/Reps: 3-4×20
Bird Dogs
Assume all-fours position with back flat; look straight ahead
Slowly raise right arm and left leg and hold for five to 10 seconds; keep core right
Slowly lower and perform on opposite site
Repeat for specified reps
Sets/Reps: 3-4×20 each side
Planks
Assume plank position with elbows under shoulders, back flat and eyes focused on ground
Keep core tight and hold position for specified time
I can remember doing manual labor during college and envying the guy who sat at his desk. Now if I sit at mine for more than ten minutes my back hurts, my right shoulder blade area gets a sharp pain, my hand tingles… Than starts the butt pain! As your chiropractor in the Woodbridge, Dale City VA area I also hear the same thing from my patients. Sitting doesn’t have to be painful you just have to makes sure your workstation is correct!
The first step in setting up an office chair is to establish the desired height of the individual’s desk or workstation. This decision is determined primarily by the type of work to be done and by the height of the person using the office chair. The height of the desk or workstation itself can vary greatly and will require different positioning of the office chair, or a different type of ergonomic chair altogether.
Once the workstation has been situated, then the user can adjust the office chair according to his or her physical proportions. Here are the most important guidelines – distilled into a quick checklist – to help make sure that the office chair and work area are as comfortable as possible and will cause the least amount of stress to the spine:
Elbow measure
First, begin by sitting comfortably as close as possible to your desk so that your upper arms are parallel to your spine. Rest your hands on your work surface (e.g. desktop, computer keyboard). If your elbows are not at a 90-degree angle, adjust your office chair height either up or down.
Thigh measure
Check that you can easily slide your fingers under your thigh at the leading edge of the office chair. If it is too tight, you need to prop your feet up with an adjustable footrest. If you are unusually tall and there is more than a finger width between your thigh and the chair, you need to raise the desk or work surface so that you can raise the height of your office chair.
Calf measure
With your bottom pushed against the chair back, try to pass your clenched fist between the back of your calf and the front of your office chair. If you can’t do that easily, then the office chair is too deep. You will need to adjust the backrest forward, insert a low back support (such as a lumbar support cushion, a pillow or rolled up towel), or get a new office chair.
Low back support
Your bottom should be pressed against the back of your chair, and there should be a cushion that causes your lower back to arch slightly so that you don’t slump forward or slouch down in the chair as you tire over time. This low back support in the office chair is essential to minimize the load (strain) on your back. Never slump or slouch forward in the office chair, as that places extra stress on the structures in the low back, and in particular, on the lumbar discs.
Resting eye level
Close your eyes while sitting comfortably with your head facing forward. Slowly open your eyes. Your gaze should be aimed at the center of your computer screen. If your computer screen is higher or lower than your gaze, you need to either raise or lower it to reduce strain on the upper spine.
Armrest
Adjust the armrest of the office chair so that it just slightly lifts your arms at the shoulders. Use of an armrest on your office chair is important to take some of the strain off your upper spine and shoulders, and it should make you less likely to slouch forward in your chair.
Knee pain in kids can be very concerning. Especially for the young athletes who see their favorite sports star go out with a knee injury. Lots of time knee pain in kids comes on out of nowhere and usually isn’t associated with an injury. Even though there isn’t an injury there is still a significant amount of pain and there are some things you can do about it. Most common type of knee pain in kids is Osgood Schlatter’s disease. Your Woodbridge, Dale City VA chiropractor has some information about it that may help you deal with your knee pain.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Osgood Schlatters disease typically consist of pain at the tibial tuberosity or bony bit at the top of the shin. The tibial tuberosity may become swollen or inflamed and may even become more prominent than normal. Tenderness and pain is worse during and after exercise but usually improves with rest. The athlete is likely to experience pain when contracting the quadriceps muscles or performing squat type exercises.
Causes
Osgood Schlatter syndrome is primarily an over use injury although certain factors can increase the likelihood of sustaining this condition.
Age – It is more likely to affect boys aged around 13 to 15 years old than girls, although girls certainly can be affected and if they are it is more likely to occur earlier at about aged 10 to 12 years old. it is often put down to growing pains in knees. Obviously this is a general guide and ages can vary. It occurs due to a period of rapid growth, combined with a high level of sporting activity. Osgood Schlatter in adults can occur, especially if it has not been looked after during teenage years but is more unusual.
Activity – As the young athletes bones grow quickly, it can take some time for the muscles and tendons to catch up. These changes result in a pulling force from the patella tendon, on to the tibial tuberosity at the top of the shin. This area then becomes inflamed, painful and swollen. This is frequent in younger people because their bones are still soft and are not yet fully grown. It is seen more often in children involved with running and jumping activities which put a much greater strain on the patella tendon.
Osgood Schlatter Treatment
Treatment for Osgood Schlatters disease consists of reducing pain and inflammation by applying the PRICE principles of protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation along with longer term managing the condition through training modification and educating the athlete or parent until the young athlete grows out of it.
Apply a cold therapy and compression wrap to the knee regularly throughout the day to reduce pain and inflammation and particularly following activity or sport. Ice should be applied at least three times a day for 10 to 15 minutes. If it is particularly painful then ice can be applied for 10 minutes every hour. Ice massage with an ice cube is also a convenient way to apply cold therapy to a specific area such as the patella tendon. Keep the ice moving as applying directly to the skin can cause ice burns.
Rest is the most important element of treatment. Only do as much exercise as it will allow without causing pain. Weight bearing exercise will make Osgood Schlatters disease worse. Keep your sessions few and high quality rather than training every day.
Use a patella knee strap or patella tendon taping technique to help reduce the tension on and support the knee. A patella strap or taping can absorb some of the shock or impact and change the angle the forces are transmitted through the tendon.
A Doctor may prescribe NSAID’s or anti inflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen to help reduce pain and inflammation, although this is not good to rely on long term, or mask how bad the condition actually is. Athletes with asthma should not take Ibuprofen.
Once normal daily activities are pain free then gentle stretching exercises may be beneficial along with massage for the quadriceps muscles and myofascial release techniques to help stretch the muscles can help ensure they are strong enough to cope with the loads placed on them as well as not being too tight.
Last week I nagged you about ice and when and how to use it. Hopefully it all made sense. Now we are at the excuse making point in our discussion on ice. No Doc, I didn’t ice. I don’t have and ice pack! What can I use for ice? Would ice cubes work? Trust me I have heard it all. I get it, ice doesn’t feel good let alone sound like an awesome idea to do to your low back. But it works! As your Chiropractor in the Woodbridge, Dale City VA area I am eliminating one of your excuses.
Summer heat is here and it isn’t really summer! As your chiropractor in the Woodbridge, Dale City VA area I can’t say stay hydrated enough. It helps with overall body health but also plays a huge roll in muscle function and muscle spasm. Muscle spasm is something I deal with daily. Here are a few ways to stay hydrated during your busy day!
Many people are so busy that they barely have time to eat, let alone pause for a water break, and you may find you often go hours and hours without quenching your thirst. But staying hydrated has real advantages, including helping you maintain your energy and focus so you can operate more efficiently, so it’s important to give your drinking habits the attention they deserve. Here are some simple ways to make fueling up with fluid throughout the day a little easier:
Always carry a water bottle, and if you have desk job, always keep one at your desk. If you have a bottle within arms reach, it’s very likely that you’ll mindlessly sip from it throughout the day, without having to make a conscious effort.
When you’re feeling frazzled or hazy, grab a glass of cold water. Studies show that people instantly feel more alert after drinking H2O. It’s a simple, healthy way to snap out of a midday slump.
Sip on a mug of herbal tea every evening. If you make this a habit, you’ll add an extra cup of fluid to your tally every single day. On top of that, this relaxing ritual is a wonderful way to de-stress at the end of the day.
Eat a diet rich in whole foods. By eating water-rich foods like vegetables, fruits, and yogurt, you’ll automatically up your fluid intake. On the other hand, processed snack foods like chips, crackers, and baked goods have minimal water content.
If you’re an elderly adult or a caretaker for one, it’s especially important to pay attention to hydration. Aging impairs the body’s natural thirst mechanisms, which makes it easier to become dehydrated. It may be helpful to fill up a big water bottle (at least 1 liter) at the beginning of the day, with the goal of emptying it by the end of the day. The water bottle is a physical reminder to drink even if you’re not thirsty.
