Posts Tagged ‘tip of the day’
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010
Here’s a nice simple one for those of you who are getting new computers or workstations for the holidays: When you are positioning all of your equipment, use your glasses to help figure out the height of your computer screen. By placing it so that the arms of your eyeglasses are parallel to the floor, you can be certain your neck will be in a neutral position when working, or on line.
Check back later this week for great tips for breastfeeding mothers, as well as a review of a wonderful sexual aid for folks with back pain.
Thanks for stopping by!
Andy
Tags: Andrew Kirschner, andy kirschner, Back Pain, back together, backtogether, computer, computers, kirschner, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, spasm, tip, tip of the day, Tips
Posted in Ergonomics | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 6th, 2010
I had several visits with a patient who had neck pain which she related to computer use. If you’ve checked out my recent posts on Martha Stewart’s Whole Living Daily, you’ve seen my suggestions on making your home and workspace more back friendly. This patient had taken all of my suggestions, and modified her desk space- altering the height and position of her monitor and keyboard, optimized her chair, etc… and she still had neck pain.
I did not identify any significant mechanical problems with her neck- so I sat her down in front of my computer and had her browse the internet for a few minutes (checking out some of her favorite posts here on BackWords!) Almost immediately, I was able to see what the problem was- she was squinting at the screen, and craning her neck forward to see it better. I quickly asked her when her last eye exam was, and she told me ‘more than 4 years ago.’
She had an eye exam, got her prescription changed, and her neck pain went away.
Get regular eye exams!
-Andy
Tags: Andrew Kirschner, andy kirschner, Back Pain, back together, backtogether, eye, eye exam, eyes, kirschner, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, pain, tip, tip o' the day, tip of, tip of the day, Tips
Posted in Tip o' the Day/ B.T.T.o.D., Tips | No Comments »
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
I almost hate to talk about shoes in the midst of all of this Sex and the City hyperhype. If I hear the words ‘Manolo Blahnik’ one more time, I may need therapy. But the truth is, high heels get somewhat of a bad rap in discussions about back pain. You always hear about how wearing these shoes or those shoes caused back pain, but there are some things you can do to prevent this from happening to you. When you are considering how shoes might affect you, there are a few things to consider:
-If you need to wear heels for work, or an occasion- try to keep them no higher than 1 to 1.5 inches in height. Higher than this, and you will alter your pelvic tilt, and compromise your body mechanics.
-If you must wear heels higher than that, try to stick with ones that have a wider, more supportive heel (mules for example.) These will provide lateral support and put you at less risk than stiletto types.
-There are no dress shoes (for women or men) that are particularly supportive, so really try to wear them only when you need to. Good shock absorption and arch support can to a lot to protect your back from harm. I love when I see folks walking to work in a suit wearing sneakers, and changing into their shoes when they get where they are going.
As a guy who wears cowboy boots most of the time, I take my footwear seriously!
Just a few thoughts. Be Well!
-Andy
Honestly- these shoes are HEINOUS!
Tags: Andrew Kirschner, andy kirschner, Back Pain, back together, backtogether, blahnik, kirschner, Low Back Pain, manolo, Neck Pain, sex and the city, shoe, shoes, tip, tip of the day, Tips
Posted in Tip o' the Day/ B.T.T.o.D., Tips | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
Your body mechanics are such that you place yourself at higher risk for back injury when pulling a heavy object rather than pushing. If you must pull, try to utilize the most stable base you can- utilizing your legs rather than your back.
Tags: Andrew Kirschner, andy kirschner, Back Pain, back together, backtogether, kirschner, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, pain, Sciatica, tip of the day, Tips
Posted in Ergonomics, Low Back Pain, Tip o' the Day/ B.T.T.o.D. | No Comments »
Monday, March 15th, 2010
Any time you have bodywork done, be it Osteopathic treatment, Massage, Chiropractic- it doesn’t matter what- be sure to consume plenty of water that day. Manipulation of the soft tissue can stimulate areas of the lymphatic system, releasing all sorts of cellular waste. A healthy amount of water will help flush those waste products out of your system.
Be well!
-Andy
Tags: Back Pain, body work, bodywork, chiropractic, lymphatic, massage, Neck Pain, osteopathic, tip of the day, Tips, treatment
Posted in Tip o' the Day/ B.T.T.o.D. | 1 Comment »
Saturday, March 6th, 2010
Osteoporosis is one leading cause of back pain as some people age. A diet high in calcium, vitamins C & D, combined with regular weight bearing exercise (something as simple as walking will do) will go a long way towards preventing the ravaging effects of osteoporosis. There are other factors involved, so before to get regular check ups with your family physician, internist or OBGYN.
Thanks for stopping by!
-Andy
Beautiful lake Kinneret, Jordan River Valley, Israel.
Tags: Andrew Kirschner, Back Pain, back pain tips, back together, backtogether, kirschner, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, osteoporosis, tip o' the day, tip of the day
Posted in General Health Information, Nutrition, Tip o' the Day/ B.T.T.o.D. | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
If you do not play golf, you probably don’t recognize how strenuous it can actually be. The lumbar spine and shoulders are subjected to tremendous torque, and the whole ‘drive’ portion of the game is a ‘ballistic’ exercise- meaning there is instantaneous generation of enormous energy.
Be sure to hydrate before hitting the links, and take a few minutes to stretch.
Follow a round of golf with good hydration (not the cocktails you may be tempted to have) a good, high protein meal, and adequate rest to give your body the opportunity to recover (the length of time needed to recover varies from person to person- the simple rule is to wait until most of your muscle soreness has resolved.) This will ensure that you will be able to play throughout the season.
As the weather warms up here in the Northern Hemisphere, look for more tips and articles on getting the most pain-free experience out of Spring-Summer sports.
Enjoy,
Andy
Tags: Andrew Kirschner, Back Pain, back together, backtogether, golf, kirschner, Low Back Pain, sports, stretching, tip, tip of the day, Tips
Posted in sports, Tip o' the Day/ B.T.T.o.D. | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
One of the most useful tools for understanding your back & neck pain is the pain diary. Each day, keep a small list of one word descriptions of your activities for the day (office, tennis, groceries, sex, etc…) along with a subjective rating of your pain level (0= No pain, 10= Worst pain ever) both in the morning and in the evening. Over a few weeks, look for patterns in your pain- occasionally you will find simply by changing the order of your week’s activities, or better spacing those activities which cause you the most pain, you can reduce your overall level of discomfort.
Try it- you may be surprised at what you find!
-Andy
Tags: Andrew Kirschner, andy kirschner, Back Pain, back together, backtogether, diary, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, pain diary, tip o' the day, tip of the day
Posted in Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Tip o' the Day/ B.T.T.o.D. | No Comments »
Friday, February 12th, 2010
I know, I know- your kids will say they will look dorky if they have a roller. I tell my daughter she will look dorkier walking around lopsided because of the damage to her back carrying around a hundred pounds of books. They make cool looking ones, and you will save your children from potentially serious back problems.
Enjoy your weekend!
-Andy
The skilled touch of a loved one can have a greater, longer lasting effect on back pain.
Tags: Andrew Kirschner, andy kirschner, Back Pain, back together, backpack, book bag, bookbag, Kids, kirschner, Neck Pain, tip, tip of the day, Tips
Posted in General Health Information, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Tip o' the Day/ B.T.T.o.D. | No Comments »
Monday, February 1st, 2010
If you see today’s blog post, you will read about how small things have big effects. Here is one thing so many people- men in particular- do, that can cause all sorts of low back discomfort. Keep your wallet in your front pocket or in a bag or briefcase.
Tags: Andrew Kirschner, Back Pain, back together, ergonomic, Ergonomics, kirschner, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, tip of the day, wallet
Posted in Ergonomics, Tip o' the Day/ B.T.T.o.D. | No Comments »
