Author Archives: paulgraham

Erector Spinae Anyone?

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The erector spinae are back muscles that run along each side of the spinal column.  When you injure this muscle, it can really hurt.  The best way to control the pain is through exercises that target these muscles.  Too many people forget all about toning up their back muscles when they exercise.  They work their arms, legs and abdomens but leave the poor back out of the picture.

The best exercises I’ve found for the back include the barbell bent row, the deadlift, the pelvic lift, the leg lift buttock tightener and the double leg lifts.   Though some of these exercises sound like they’re meant for bodybuilders or weightlifters, they are perfect for everyone.  You don’t have to use a heavy weight.  In fact, you can use a phone book if you want.  The main point is you need to make sure you include your back in a regular exercise routine if you want to avoid unnecessary sprains, pulls and tears.

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Back Pain Muscle Spasms

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Collage of several of w:Gray's muscle pictures...
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You have long muscles that run along the spine called the erector spinae muscles.  These are often the guilty muscles when you have back pain and muscle spasms.  A spasm is an involuntary contraction of the muscle for a sustained period of time.  Usually a spasm occurs when the muscle has been suddenly stressed somehow which can include injury, sprains, tears or bruising.  The spasm can actually start in the nerves that lead into the muscle though the feeling is the same no matter where the spasm starts.

Most of the time muscle spasms are painful, but not serious.  It should be mentioned though that in some cases, the spasm may be a symptom of a more serious problem.  The back is composed of bones, muscles and ligaments, and injury or disease to any component can result in back pain muscle spasms.

Back pain and muscle spasms can occur anywhere along the spine from the neck to the lower back.  A spasm can occur once or it can happen repeatedly.  Often the spasm makes the muscle feel sore and tight even after the spasm subsides.  So when you deal with muscle spasms you have two goals.  The first goal is to attempt to prevent the reoccurrence of the spasm.  The second goal is to relive the pain and tension after the spasm.

There are many ways you can approach management of back pain and muscle spasms at home.  First, you should keep moving.  You don’t want to go to bed and lie still, because that will cause the muscle to hurt more.  Light exercises will relieve the muscle stress while strengthening and toning.  Also, you can use an ice pack applied to the area and decrease the muscle spasm pain.  In addition, you should avoid any heavy lifting or moves similar to the moves you were doing before the spasm.

If your back pain and muscle spasms don’t get better with home remedies, you may have to visit the doctor.  Frequently, muscle relaxants are prescribed to relieve muscle tightness.  Muscle relaxants are a short term solution meant to give relief from pain while the muscle heals.   Some people find enough relief by using over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain relievers.  Many medications you can now buy yourself are what were once considered full prescription strength.  All of the drugs can reduce swelling and increase muscle flexibility.

Other forms of therapy for back pain and muscle spasms include massage or physical therapy.  But one of the most important therapies you can do yourself.  That’s to maintain good posture.  Good posture lets your spine work the way it was designed to work.  Maintaining good posture is important during any activity too and not just while standing.   You should stand, sit, walk and lift while maintaining proper spine position.  This will help you avoid muscle injury and sprains that can lead to muscle spasms.

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Some of the Chiropractic Techniques

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Posterior median line
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When most people think of chiropractic techniques, the standard neck or back adjustment is what comes to mind.  However to understand why chiropractic care is so useful, it is imperative to be aware that doctors of chiropractic have a lot more tricks up their sleeves other than just the famous back adjustment.  Chiropractors treat more areas of the body than just the spine.  These highly trained professionals go to school for in depth training of techniques and when and where they are appropriate, as well as detailed study of how the body works in relation to all aspects of health.  Muscle and bones are just a part of their training.  They also are taught how disease and injury affect each region of the body and how to treat it for optimum healing.  Take a look at some of the chiropractic techniques you may be less familiar with.

One of the most interesting of the chiropractic techniques is known as the applied kinesiology technique.  This one deals with more than just the alignment of the spine and joints.  The placement of the bones can’t be correct unless the muscles surrounding them are in correct placement as well.  Using light massage and manipulation of the acupressure points, chiropractors can encourage normal and healthy muscle function.  This restored balance helps the bones move back into the proper ailment.  This technique is an interesting look at how all the systems of the body work together as one.

Since the spine related adjustments are the most familiar to most of us, here’s a look at some of the spine chiropractic techniques and what they are used to correct.  The Cox flexion distraction is first up on our list.  This technique involves using stretching or traction of the spine to correct lower back pain and misalignment.  The Thompson terminal point technique is another one of the frequently used techniques.  Using a special drop style table, this technique is used to adjust the entire spine.  Another fascinating example of the dynamic of how different areas of the body can adversely affect a seemingly unrelated area of the body is neck pain.  In some cases the Sacro-Occipital technique is used.  The patient lies on their back with padded blocks placed under the pelvic region.  This allows the body to adjust itself and reduce neck pain.  There are hundreds of other techniques chiropractors can use to improve the performance of the body and promote pain relief.  These are just a few.

The various chiropractic techniques are an interesting look at how every area of the body directly impacts its neighbor.  Understanding the purpose of some of the things your chiropractor may do is a good way to reduce fear of the unknown and take a proactive stand in your own health care.

Each of the chiropractic techniques was designed to heal a specific problem.  These techniques help to relieve pain, improve joint flexibility, and increase body function without the use of medications or surgeries.

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It hurts when I work

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Labelled by Vsion, using another Public Domain...
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The world doesn’t stop for back pain.  That means you may get a few days off because of back pain, but eventually you have to go to work.  The best thing to do is learn some office moves and positions that will keep your spine muscles from tightening and your spine from compressing.  You also want to prevent back pain as much as possible of course.

When you’re at work try doing some light spine stretching exercises throughout the day.  You don’t have to make a big scene.  You just need to do some things like forward stretches, neck rolls and some twisting moves.  You should do these exercises gently though and don’t go overboard with the twisting moves.  The goal is to keep the back limber so it doesn’t tense up.  If you need a new chair that gives low back support, you should show your boss proof you have a back problem.  Most companies go out of their way today to accommodate health problems.

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Back Pain Muscle Spasms – Finding the Culprits

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You have long muscles that run along the spine called the erector spinae muscles.  These are often the guilty muscles when you have back pain and muscle spasms.  A spasm is an involuntary contraction of the muscle for a sustained period of time.  Usually a spasm occurs when the muscle has been suddenly stressed somehow which can include injury, sprains, tears or bruising.  The spasm can actually start in the nerves that lead into the muscle though the feeling is the same no matter where the spasm starts.

Most of the time muscle spasms are painful, but not serious.  It should be mentioned though that in some cases, the spasm may be a symptom of a more serious problem.  The back is composed of bones, muscles and ligaments, and injury or disease to any component can result in back pain muscle spasms.

Back pain and muscle spasms can occur anywhere along the spine from the neck to the lower back.  A spasm can occur once or it can happen repeatedly.  Often the spasm makes the muscle feel sore and tight even after the spasm subsides.  So when you deal with muscle spasms you have two goals.  The first goal is to attempt to prevent the reoccurrence of the spasm.  The second goal is to relive the pain and tension after the spasm.

There are many ways you can approach management of back pain and muscle spasms at home.  First, you should keep moving.  You don’t want to go to bed and lie still, because that will cause the muscle to hurt more.  Light exercises will relieve the muscle stress while strengthening and toning.  Also, you can use an ice pack applied to the area and decrease the muscle spasm pain.  In addition, you should avoid any heavy lifting or moves similar to the moves you were doing before the spasm.

If your back pain and muscle spasms don’t get better with home remedies, you may have to visit the doctor.  Frequently, muscle relaxants are prescribed to relieve muscle tightness.  Muscle relaxants are a short term solution meant to give relief from pain while the muscle heals.   Some people find enough relief by using over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain relievers.  Many medications you can now buy yourself are what were once considered full prescription strength.  All of the drugs can reduce swelling and increase muscle flexibility.

Other forms of therapy for back pain and muscle spasms include massage or physical therapy.  But one of the most important therapies you can do yourself.  That’s to maintain good posture.  Good posture lets your spine work the way it was designed to work.  Maintaining good posture is important during any activity too and not just while standing.   You should stand, sit, walk and lift while maintaining proper spine position.  This will help you avoid muscle injury and sprains that can lead to muscle spasms.