Sunday, September 29, 2013

Cellaplex For Lower Back Pain


Cellaplex Can Provide Back Pain Relief: The Answer to Your Debilitating Problem

Lower back pain is the most common cause of work-related disabilities. It is second only to headaches as the most common neurological disorder. In fact, in the US alone, Americans are spending more than 50 billion dollars annually for pain relief and treatments.

The Causes of Lower Back Pain

There are many causes of lower back pains. For example, acute back pains are normally caused by trauma or injury. Your movement can be hampered because of stabbing pain in your back. If left untreated, acute back pains can lead to permanent paralysis.

There are also chronic lower back pains. If there is a persistent pain in your back that bothers you everyday, then it could be chronic. This is a more problematic disorder and you need immediate medical help so you can find effective lower back pain relief.

Age is a determining factor that causes back pain. As you get older, the strength of your backbone and the elasticity of your muscles will decrease also. The disc will gradually lose its fluid thus it will not be able to properly support the vertebrae.

Conventional Pain Relief

The most common approach to alleviate pain is through medication. However, this is a palliative solution because it only numbs the pain. So you will still experience shooting pain back whenever the drug wears off.

Surgery is also an option. Surgical procedures are ideal for those with severe disorders. However, this is a very expensive and risky treatment. It will also take months before you can fully regain your mobility.

Natural Supplements

Natural supplements for the treatment of arthritis and degenerative joint disorders can provide an effective solution for chronic back pain. One of the formulas on the market is Cellaplex. Cellaplex addresses all of the common back pain problems and is recommended by the top orthopaedic doctors in the country.

Cellaplex contains natural anti-inflammatory ingredients (chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, and bromelain) which are your best and safest option. This can significantly reduce or eliminate pain symptoms. Cellaplex also contains glucosamine, hydrolyzed collagen, and resveratrol which can rebuild damaged tissues and restore the normal functioning of your lower back.

This unique, pain-fighting supplement would be the best remedy as these natural substances can effectively boost natural lubrication of joints thus restoring flexibility and mobility. Cellaplex also contains essential mineral and vitamins needed for healthy bone growth and regeneration. These ingredients help keep your bones healthier and can aid in fighting inflammation and strengthen and promote cartilage growth.

Unfortunately, not all natural joint pain supplements are created equal. You should choose one that passed controlled clinical testing but this is almost impossible as the FDA does not require over the counter products to be tested and approved. Doctor and physician endorsements or recommendations are also very good as that means a product has been used in their rehab facilities and has yielded positive results. Cellaplex is recommended by numerous doctors and physicians and that is a good sign of its efficacy.

Lower back pain is a nasty disorder. It could significantly affect the quality of your life and could prevent you from doing normal physical activities. Once you suspect that you are suffering from this ailment, you have to immediately treat it in order to avoid serious complications. Cellaplex now makes it possible to live a normal, pain free life again!

How to Rehabilitate Your Lower Back


Lower back exercises when done properly can significantly reduce low back pain by activating muscles of the low back and "core." 80% of people will experience some form of low back pain in their lifetime. Therefore, people should be doing some kind of exercise for the lower back to prevent injuries.

The most common form of lower back pain is "mechanical low back pain," which happens when a patient uses the wrong muscles to load the joints of the lower back. When a patient experiences mechanical low back pain it is very hard to pinpoint a direct cause for the pain. This type of pain usually occurs due to a direct injury to the area, repetitive overuse injury, or posture related injuries.

When the wrong muscle gets loaded by a joint it causes the muscle that was supposed to be loaded to get turned off by the brain. Then the brain really doesn't know that muscle exists for a certain action. For example, people who sit all day long usually have trouble using their gluteus maximus muscle when it comes to hip hinging and other activities that require this muscle to fire.

Therefore; the gluteus maximus muscle will get shut off by the brain and a different muscle will take the blunt of the work. These are usually the muscles of the lower back getting the workload. This can then cause pain. Proper hip hinge refers to using your hips as hinges to lower your body into a squat position, which is what we all do when we sit down. This action should be dominated by the gluteus maximus muscle and not by the muscles of the lower back.

Lower Back Rehabilitation Exercises:

Cat-Camel Exercise:

The Goal is spinal mobility. Good first exercise in a rehabilitation program. Maintain slow and controlled posture. This exercise has to be pain free. Perform 10-20 reps and 2-3 sets per day.

Abdominal Bracing:

Proper position is on all fours. Bracing the abdominals is exactly what you do when you are going to get punched in the stomach. Place hands around mid-section to check for proper activation. This is very good to train the abdominal muscles in the initial phase of the rehab program. Brace for 3-5 seconds and do 8-10 reps.

Glute Squeezes:

This exercise must be done first to maintain activation of the glutes before progressing to glute bridges. Feel the hamstrings and lower back to make sure the glutes are doing all the work. Simply perform by squeezing the glutes together.

Glute Max Bridges:

Brace the abdominals first. Then squeeze the glutes together and bridge up. This is a very good exercise for gluteus maximus activation and is key in lower back rehabilitation. Feel the hamstrings and lower back to make sure the glutes have the most tone. If the glutes don't have the most tone go back to glute squeezes until this occurs.

Side Bridges:

Start on knees and advance onto feet. Activation of the transverse abdominus (core muscle) contributes to low back stability. Abdominal brace first, then squeeze glutes together to raise up making sure knees, hips, and shoulders are in line. Hold the bridge for 3-5 seconds for beginners and do 10-15 reps. Advanced side bridge can be held for as long as possible for endurance.

Bird Dogs:

It's very important to brace the abdominals first. Stretch opposite arm and leg out and maintain a slow controlled motion to maintain activation of the core and glute muscles.

Body Weight Squats:

This exercise must be done when the patient knows proper hip hinge procedure. Hip hinging is bending at the hips using the glutes to guide the movement. We do not want excessive bending and moving in the lumbar spine.

Tri-Planar Lunges

There are 3 planes of motion sagittal (front to back), frontal ( side to side), and transverse (diagonal movement). Every muscle and joint must be able to move in these planes of motion. So to properly train the glutes movement must occur in 3 planes of motion.

Always consult your physician before starting any exercise or rehabilitation program. These lower back rehabilitation exercises are not suited for everyone. If you feel you should start a rehabilitation program please consult a health care professional.

Lower back rehabilitation is an integral part of beating lower back pain. Lower back exercises can be found here with picture demonstrations.

Understanding the Leading Back Pain Causes


Most often, back pain generally refers to pain that is felt in any part of the back. It may appear in the neck and radiate to the middle or lower area. This is the most common problem faced by most adults but the underlying causes may be different. At times, a wrong diagnosis could lead to further problems. If the pain disappears within a few days of its occurrence, then there is probably nothing serious. However, if it is persistent and doesn't go away within a few days or weeks then there is a more serious underlying condition.

An Overview

Back pain could be caused due to a variety of factors. It could be age-related, injury or trauma, stress, etc. With the progression of age, there are many health problems that can occur. The bone strength may decrease along with the tone and elasticity of the muscles. The disc fluids may also reduce leading to poor flexibility.

Major Causes

Arthritis - Arthritis in the spine is one of the most common causes of chronic back pain in adults. The pain could be felt anywhere in the back and will generally worsen while walking and the pain is felt more at night. Osteoarthritis is the condition where the cartilage that is present in the joints gets damaged. In rheumatoid arthritis, there is inflammation and thickening of the bone joints and this can cause pain in the back.

Ankylosing spondylitis is another condition where the spine is affected leading to stiffness and the inflammation leads to back pain.

Osteoporosis is a condition where the bones become very brittle and this could lead to compression fractures in the vertebrae, which could cause severe pain in the back. The vertebrae become so weak that it cannot withstand even minor stress or strain.

Bad posture while sleeping - Bad sleeping postures can cause severe back pain due to the strain on the spine.

Obesity - Obesity causes an excessive strain on the vertebral column. Weight loss will help in pain reduction.

Improper seating position - Ergonomics is very important when it comes to seating positions. Improper seating can cause back pain.

Disc damage - When the fluid in the disc spaces decrease, the vertebrae does not have a cushion to act as a shock absorber and this could lead to severe back pain.

Menstrual cycle or during pregnancy - Back pain during the menstrual cycles and during pregnancy is very common. The enlarged abdomen puts a strain on the spine during pregnancy, thereby causing backpain.

Trauma or injury to the back - If your back has suffered any injury in the past, it leads to the formation of scar tissue. When there is a large buildup of scar tissue due to repeated injuries, it weakens the back muscles and can lead to further aggravation of symptoms.

Proper diagnosis is necessary to find out the actual back pain causes and only then the appropriate treatment can be suggested.

Chronic Back Pain Symptoms and Exercises for Lower Back Pain


The most common symptoms of back pain may be continuous or may occur only in certain positions. The pain may be aggravated by coughing, sneezing, bending, twisting, or straining during a bowel movement. The pain may occur in only one spot or may spread to other areas, most commonly extending down the buttocks and at times into the back of the legs. Chronic back pain symptoms may include splinting muscle spasm, antalgic (bent) posture, muscle weakness, inability to stand on heels or toes or difficulty in rising from a sitting or lying position. Whatever chronic back pain symptoms you may be exhibiting, the following exercises for lower back pain will strengthen your back and alleviate your pain long term.

1. Lie flat on the floor in a relaxed position. Bring your right knee toward your chest, clasping your hands around your knee. Pull your right knee toward your chest firmly and, at the same time, forcefully straighten your left leg, and hold for three to five seconds. Then relax and repeat at least five times. Repeat the same procedure with your opposite leg.

2. Lie on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor and your arms at your sides with your palms down. Tighten the muscles of your lower abdomen and buttocks so as to flatten your low back. Slowly raise your low back and buttocks from the floor and hold for five seconds. Relax and repeat this procedure for at least five times.

3. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor, your hands at your sides and your palms down. Tighten the muscles of your abdomen and buttocks as if you are pushing your lower back flat against the floor. Hold for five seconds, relax and repeat a minimum of five times.

4. Lie on the floor with your knees bent and your feet on the floor, with your arms at your sides. Bring both knees to your chest, clasping your hands around both knees and pulling firmly towards your chest. Hold for five seconds, relax, and repeat at least five times.

5. If your chronic back pain symptoms are so severe that you are unable to lay on the floor, another set of exercises for lower back pain can be performed from a chair. Sit on the edge of a chair with your knees separated slightly and your feet flat on the floor. Keeping your back straight, bend forward and place your right forearm on your right thigh. Extend your left arm up toward the ceiling, and, while exhaling, turn and look up at your left hand. Hold for three breaths, and repeat to the other side for a minimum of five times each side. Next, increase the stretch, bend forward to place your right hand along the outside of your left foot and repeat the same exercise as above.

6. Lie on your back with your hips and knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Roll your knees from side to side, but do not roll far enough to cause back pain. Perform this exercise as long as it remains comfortable to you and relieves tight, sore, chronic back pain symptoms.

These are just a handful of exercises for lower back pain. Long term, consistent application of these exercises will strengthen your back and eliminate chronic back pain symptoms. Other things you can do in addition to the exercises for lower back pain are to sleep on a firm mattress and place a pillow under your knees when you are lying on your back. If you are lying on your side, place a pillow between your knees. Lose weight if you are overweight, as this puts less strain on your back and muscles. To reduce the strain put on your back, don't push with your arms when you move a heavy object. Turn around and push backwards so your legs take the strain. Bend your knees and hips and keep your back straight when you lift a heavy object. To prevent any chronic back pain symptoms avoid lifting heavy objects higher than your waist or altogether. Hold packages you carry close to your body, with your arms bent. Bend your knees when you bend over and try and sit up straight while seated.

If you follow these tips in addition to performing the exercises for lower back pain, you should be able to eliminate your chronic back pain symptoms and live a productive, pain free life.

Low Back Pain Physical Therapy - Solutions For Aches and Pains


Physical therapy is a very useful tool for many different situations. With so many millions of people experiencing low back pain every single year, it's often nice to know that there are more effective solutions than medical procedures, harsh medications, and just waiting it out. While many people assume that injury to their back requires rest and keeping still, this is actually detrimental in many cases. Low back pain physical therapy is a much better alternative and can help speed the healing process along if done properly. Of course, you should be able to rest the area to give it time to heal, but you can't lie around and do nothing for any extended period of time or the muscles will get stiff and create more problems for you. Consider low back pain physical therapy if you want an effective solution that doesn't involve serious treatments or procedures.

Physical therapy routines can be prescribed by a doctor, physical therapist, or even a chiropractor. While many people will discount the credibility of chiropractors as a source of medical advice, they are trained in the physiology of the body and know what they are talking about. They can offer treatment plans for your low back pain that include physical therapy along with other procedures such as electrical therapy, heat/ice therapy, and massage. Make sure that you discuss all of your symptoms with whatever doctor you visit to ensure that you get the best treatment program for your needs without putting yourself in more danger than it's worth. The great thing about getting professional therapy for back pain is that you can often experience better results than if you tried to do things yourself.

There are many different types of low back pain physical therapy that people can take on, depending on their exact injuries and what they're capable of doing. For example, if an older person with limited mobility has lower back pain, they can still find many effective exercises that will help to alleviate or even completely eliminate their back pain if they work with a physical therapist or their family doctor. All that you need to do is to take the time to make sure that you get the right medical treatment and that you fully disclose everything to the doctor or therapist so that you don't put yourself in more danger than it is worth when it comes to working out back problems with physical therapy.

Low back pain physical therapy isn't for everyone. However, it can be an effective solution for many people who are looking for something simple and less invasive or serious than medical procedures and prescription medication. Usually, if you are prescribed some type of therapy routine, it will involve stretching and strength training exercises combined, which will help to loosen the sore muscles in the lower back and make the other muscles around them stronger so that the back isn't under as much stress and is able to function better in the future. Of course, everyone is different and so is every treatment that is prescribed, so you will just have to talk to your doctor to see what they think is best for your needs.

If you are looking for a permanent solution to pain relief, you should talk to your doctor about low back pain physical therapy treatments. In many cases, the exercises that you do in physical therapy will help to make the body healthier and stronger so that you can avoid future injuries and pain in the back because your body is not strong enough or healthy enough to handle the stress that is put on your back. However, if you have a chronic condition, physical therapy might just offer a simple pain management program that allows you to make the pain less severe and more sporadic than it might have been without the therapy. No matter how you use it or what you get out of physical therapy for low back pain, it can be an effective solution for just about anyone that is suffering from low back pain. If you want a natural treatment that is effective, you need to learn about physical therapy for back pain.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Avoid Back Pain When Playing the Piano


Proper posture and body mechanics are essential to avoiding back, neck and shoulder pain. For piano players, these two essentials make the difference between suffering through your music and fully enjoying the experience.

A musician studies both his instrument and himself when developing his musical style. Part of this study for pianists should involve how you hold your body and how you interact with the piano. Proper form and ease of movement will reduce pain and improve your playing.

Piano Form

Posture is one of the main determinants of muscle tension. Posture is poor when muscles are held at abnormal lengths. The following tips will help you maintain correct posture at the piano, thereby reducing muscle tension.

1. Don't hunch over so that your face is parallel to the keys. Some do this simply because it makes it easier to see the keys; other may do so unconsciously due to the stress of concentration. Sit upright and use your eyes rather than your neck to look down.
2. Keep your shoulders low and loose. Tensing and raising the shoulders is one of the most common postural mistakes people make when they concentrate, particularly when using their arms.
3. Your forearms should be about parallel to the floor. Your elbows should be a little in front of your midline. As your move your arms up and down the keyboard, strive to keep the elbow and hand in line with each other. These postural tips will help reduce strain on the arms and shoulders.
4. When you need to reach beyond the keys in front of you, move from your hips rather than your back. This is easier to do if you sit on the front part of your bench, which frees up the hip joints since less thigh area is anchored by the bench.
5. Feet should be flat on the floor. If the feet aren't supporting the legs, the hips and lower back will have to.

Ergonomics

Your piano station should be set up with following ergonomic capacities to facilitate correct posture.

1. You must be seated high enough to allow your elbows to be positioned above the keys with the forearm almost parallel to the floor. You may choose an adjustable bench or use props such as phone books to raise your seat if needed.
2. If your feet can't reach the floor to be resting flat on it, you can use a footrest and or similar prop beneath your feet for support. Dangling feet put extra strain on the hips and lower back since they fail to support the legs.

Stretches

The above tips will help set you up for reduced muscle tension while playing the piano. It is always a good idea to stretch the body, particularly muscles subjected to the most stress. Stretching will also help you be aware of your body and give you a break form sitting. Do the following stretches before and after practices, and at 30-45 minute intervals during sessions.

1. Raise the arms above the head and slowly lower them to your sides. This helps elongate the spine.
2. Roll the shoulders backwards.
3. Clasp your hands behind your back and pull backward, opening up the chest.
4. Clasp your hands in front of your chest with palms facing outward and push out. This stretches the upper back.
5. Get down on one knee with the both knees at 90 degree angles. Lean forward. This partial lunge stretches the hip flexors, which are commonly tight in people who sit for prolonged periods of time.

Additional Resources

If you need extra instruction, consider the Alexander Technique. This program was designed to help musicians and performers obtain ideal posture and movement patterns. You may choose to train with an instructor or pursue self-study. Information on the Alexander Technique can be found at http://www.alexandertechnique.com/.

Movement therapies like yoga and Pilates help to increase body awareness and strengthen the core, a muscle group that plays a major role in maintaining proper posture. You may choose to participate in a class or study at home using online videos or DVDs for instruction.

You can avoid back pain when playing the piano by using your body correctly. The above tips will help keep the music in your life without the pain.

Herniated Disc Symptoms


Herniated disc symptoms can be very serious, and can lead to quite a bit of disability. This article will discuss the most common symptoms associated with a herniated disc in each region of the spine, as well as some tips for what you can do at home for relief.

But before we discuss the symptoms, we need to first have an understanding of how a herniated disc causes pain. The discs of the spine are cushions that separate each set of bones in the back. They are shock-absorbers, and they are each composed of two main parts - a strong outer covering called the annulus, and a soft jelly center called the nucleus.

If you take a close look at the spine, what you will see is that the nerves of the spine are located directly behind each disc. These nerves are very important, because they control everything in the body.

When a disc herniates, the outer covering of the disc tears, and the jelly begins to shift from the center of the disc, into the area where the disc has been damaged. This creates a bulge in the disc, and unfortunately, the disc most commonly will bulge right where the nerve is located.

This causes pressure to be applied to the affected nerve, which is truly what causes the majority of the symptoms associated with a herniated disc.

In fact, one interesting fact about the spinal discs is that they do not have the ability to feel pain sensations - in other words, even if the disc is damaged, you can't feel it. This makes sense when you consider that the discs are absorbing shock all day long - if you could feel this, you would be in pain all day!

So, the question is - if this is true, why can this condition cause so much pain? Well, the answer is because the nerves are involved - the aggravated nerve is actually what causes all of the symptoms.

With this in mind, let's discuss the most common herniated disc symptoms that can occur in each region of the spine. Let's begin with the neck, and work our way down.

A herniated disc in the cervical spine (neck) will typically cause symptoms such as neck pain and/or stiffness, headaches, shoulder, arm and hand pain (which may be experienced as sharp pain, burning, stabbing, numbness, or a pins and needles sensation), dizziness, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, thyroid problems (which can lead to weight problems), chest pains, and even heart palpitations (a feeling that your heart is pumping strongly in your chest).

This is a perfect example of what I was mentioning earlier - as you can see, these symptoms can involve much more than neck pain. The reason for this is because these areas of the body are controlled by the nerves in the neck, and pressure on a cervical nerve from a herniated disc will cause these parts of the body to malfunction.

The most common herniated disc symptoms for a thoracic disc (mid-back) are mid-back pain, shoulder, arm and hand pain (same as in the neck - the type of pain can vary), traveling pain around the rib cage, chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, neck pain and tension, headaches, and digestive problems (the nerves in the thoracic region of the spine control the gall bladder, which is a very important organ involved with digestion).

In the lumbar region (low back), the most common symptoms are low back pain and weakness, pain traveling down the leg (this pain can be a sharp pain, burning, stabbing, pins and needles, or numbness), leg weakness, knee pain, problems with the bowel or bladder, and sexual organ dysfunction.

So, when these symptoms occur, what can you do about them? Unfortunately, most of the treatments doctors usually recommend are not as effective as most would like them to be. They may provide temporary relief, but long term relief is not common with the typical treatments.

Most doctors will recommend medications (usually pain relievers and muscle relaxers), pain injections (such as cortisone and epidurals), physical therapy, and surgery (as a last resort, usually). The reason these treatments do not usually provide long term relief is that they are primarily focused on numbing the aggravated nerve.

This may sound good on the surface, but if you do not address the cause of the problem (the herniated disc), the pain will inevitably return.

After working with thousands of patients who suffer with this condition, I've found that there are actually a number of treatments that do address the disc itself, and a combination of these treatments are usually most effective at providing results.

In addition to this, there are a few things you can do at home for relief from herniated disc symptoms. The most common mistake I see people make with this condition is that they want to use heat for relief.

This is actually the worst thing you can do - ice is always the best choice when you are experiencing pain. Ice will numb the nerve, and reduce the inflammation in the problem area. Heat, on the other hand, will just aggravate the nerve and cause additional swelling around the nerve, which causes the pain to last longer than it needs to.

When using ice, apply it over the injured disc for 15 minutes, and wait at least an hour before you apply it again. You will need to repeat the treatment multiple times for the best results, and if you're in a lot of pain, expect to use the ice consistently for at least 3 days before you experience considerable relief.

If you would like to learn more about the most effective treatments you can use to alleviate herniated disc symptoms, you can visit http://www.HealYourBulgingDisc.com for the full details.