Posts Tagged ‘tip of the day’
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 Tip o' the Day/ B.T.T.o.D., sports | 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 »
Thursday, January 28th, 2010
Sure, those baby carriers that snap into your car to be used as car seats are an engineering feat, and they do serve two separate needs, but they are an ergonomic catastrophe. They weigh too much, place the weight of the seat and your child too far away from your center of gravity, and strain your upper and lower spine unnecessarily. Added to that, many parents are schlepping around all manner of additional baby paraphernalia which weigh them down even more.
Try leaving the carrier in the car and investing a few bucks in a sling or Bjorn like carrier. They weigh next to nothing, place your child near your center of gravity, and have the added benefit of bringing your child up to eye level- fostering eye contact with you and those around you. This has been shown to be a really positive thing for a baby’s development.
Tags: Andrew Kirschner, andy kirschner, baby, baby carrier, baby weight, Back Pain, back together, backtogether, Bjorn, car seat, Low Back Pain, tip, tip of the day, Tips
Posted in Ergonomics, Tip o' the Day/ B.T.T.o.D. | No Comments »
Monday, January 25th, 2010
With all of the time restraints we all have on our lives, it can be tempting to try and squeeze an entire day’s worth of house cleaning and other chores into a single day. Rather than subject your spine to that much abuse, break up the chores into a few smaller more manageable chunks over a few days. That way everything gets done, but your back pays a minimal price. Be well!
Tags: Andrew Kirschner, andy kirschner, Back Pain, back pain tips, back together, house cleaning, housecleaning, household chores, Low Back Pain, pain tips, tip, tip of the day, Tips
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