Category Archives: back pain

Shoulder Instability in Multiple Directions

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Instability of the shoulder in multiple directions is moderately often encountered, occurring normally on both sides of the body and is not related to accident or injury. The underlying difficulty is the laxity of the capsule of the shoulder and the deficiencies of these stabilising ligamentous structures. This ligament laxity shows itself in excessive joint mobility in all anatomical directions. Patients may describe joint instability as the shoulder may sublux (partial dislocation) or wholly dislocate from time to time. However, the patient may not suffer such obvious symptoms and complain only of pain.

Conservative treatment is the first line of management for this condition, with physiotherapy treatment consisting of strengthening of the muscular parts of the scapular stability and rotator cuff systems. Once conservative treatment has been attempted and not been successful then consideration can be given to surgery. Surgery can tighten up the shoulder capsule, increasing the strength of the static stabilisers. Typically surgery has been done in open technique but arthroscopic technique is become more prevalent.

The incidence of this instability problem in the general public is not obvious and shoulder instability from accidents is much more common as a secondary effect from shoulder dislocation. The shoulder instability types are classified in various ways and TUBS stands for:

* Trauma involved in the cause

* Unidirectional instability (only unstable in one direction)

* Bankart lesion presence – this is injury to the cartilage rim around the socket

* Surgery

TUBS summarises the typical shoulder picture which results from single or multiple episodes of shoulder dislocation.

The multidirectional type of shoulder dislocation is summarised by AMBRI, standing for:

* Atraumatic onset (no injury or accident to explain the onset)

* Multidirectional – the shoulder is lax in all directions

* Bilateral – both shoulders are always involved due to general laxity

* Rehabilitation – this is the initial treatment process

* I refers to the technical types of surgery and where they are performed.

The shoulder is designed for maximum mobility to allow the hands to be placed in a myriad of useful positions, usually in front of the eyes so we can see what we are doing. This mobility is extreme and at the expense of the stability of the joint, leading to instability problems under certain physical stresses.

In considering what stability of the shoulder means it is useful to think about various concepts. Balance is the concept that the head of the humerus should be centred on the centre of the glenoid socket. The rotator cuff muscles are the main controllers of this positional requirement, allowing the shoulder to be moved around by the large nearby muscles. If the rotator cuff muscles or the muscles stabilising the scapula weaken this can alter the ability to maintain balance. The muscles compress the head into the socket which is made deeper by the labrum, the cartilage rim around the socket.

The upper half of the shoulder socket adds to the resistance against upwardly movement of the head of the humerus which the rotator cuff also provides by its compressive function. Synovial fluid makes the joint surfaces wet and so they adhere to each other to a degree, the convex ball and the concave deepness of the socket combining to push any air out and create an amount of suction force holding the joint in place. A tight joint typically has a degree of negative pressure and this helps it hold together too. These methods of enhancing stability work in the mid ranges of the joint, the parts of the joint range where the ligaments are least effective.

The joint capsule acts passively to hold back excessive movement of the shoulder and keep it within safe limits, with thickened areas of the capsule developed into the ligaments of the shoulder, the most important of which is the inferior glenohumeral ligament. This does not mean that the muscles, the dynamic stabilisers of the shoulder system, are not very important in the normal function of the shoulder. Physiotherapy concentrates on strengthening and re-educating the rotator cuff and scapular stability muscles.

Jonathan Blood Smyth is the Superintendent of Physiotherapists at an NHS hospital in the South-West of the UK. He writes articles about back pain, neck pain, and injury management. If you are looking for physiotherapists in Sheffield visit his website.

Massage Chairs: Can They Help Diabetics?

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Massage, whether it be professional massage therapists or a massage chair, will help sooth sore muscles, where you can feel relaxed and invigorated at the same time. Diabetics should know massage is so beneficial that is should be considered compulsory for them. As no cure has been found through insulin, a controlled diet and exercise can help to keep symptoms under check. Diabetics suffer a lot, however alternative and complimentary medicines do have certain remedies in helping diabetics resume a normal life and ease their problems a lot. To less the side effects these techniques are often preferable and have lesser side effects. A massage chair has robotic techniques that can reduce a lot of the complications that face diabetics.

Massage chair therapy goes hand in hand with relaxation therapy, but can also be used to help diabetes sufferers on its own. Effective massages can stimulate blood circulation and increase blood flow around vital organs. Increasing blood circulation levels helps to decrease diabetes associated complaints and complications and proves to be extremely beneficial for those with diabetic neuropathy and associated complaints.

Massage programs are best when tailored to your individual needs. There are many kinds of massage which can be administered through a massage chair. For your general well being there are some techniques that are better suited to specific kinds of complaints. Before using a massage seek professional guidance as to what would be most beneficial to you ad then base your massage chair choice on that, getting the most out of your massage.

A massage administered by a robotic massage chair can relax your body completely and help to manage blood sugar levels and blood pressure levels by increasing blood circulation and maintaining it. This is extremely beneficial for diabetics. While the masseuse will pass over certain parts of your body, you will appreciate the pressure over certain points which are responsible for holding back toxins in your body. Gentle massage will help to clear up the toxins from these areas.

Massage helps built-up tension become relaxed giving you the much needed relief. There are a lot of pressure points on the feet and different parts of the body where massage can give you relaxed muscles instantly.

Regular massage requires you to remove your clothes where a massage chair session will not require you to move anything, however removing your shoes is nice. In any massage it is nice to not have any uncomfortable underwear or clothes constricting your muscles. Massage rooms can have a darkened room and incense can be burned to create a “mood”. Usually natural oils are used for lubrication where massage chairs require no oil, no “mood-lights or darkened room.

Don’t miss out on an opportunity for a massage, particularly from a robotic massage chair recliner, as it can be quite relaxing and beneficial for your health. The great benefit of the massage chair recliner is that you can get massaged as many times a day and for as long as you want all day long. You might enjoy it and even get relaxed to such an extent that you may fall asleep on the massage chair itself.

Want to find out more about the benefits of massage chairs, then visit Dr. Alan Weidner’s site on how to choose the best massage chair for your needs.

Some Massage Chairs For Lower Back Tenderness

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Low back pain results from a musculoskeletal disorder of the lower back. It can come in varied degrees of pain level. Many things can be the cause of low back pain, but most typically it is caused by muscular strain, injury to the lower back including the discs, ligaments, and muscles that are surrounding the spine area. There are a variety of treatments depending on exactly what is causing the pain, but one treatment that is gaining popularity is massage chairs.

It is thought that 80% of the population will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. Given the importance of the lower back to mobility, this certainly seems reasonable. There are certain conditions that occur with aging. However the vast majority fall into the preventable category.

There are certain spine conditions that are treated by medical doctors which include Ulcers, Scheuermanns disorder, Pancreatitis, Pagets disease, Pelvic inflammatory disease, Ankylosing spondylitis, and Spinal stenosis. You may require surgery and physical therapy afterwards. In some cases, prescriptions are given.

Many of the causes of low back pain can be prevented. They may result from improper lifting techniques, poor posture when standing or sitting or from injuries. It is always best to warm up your body so the muscles of the back are flexible. Pain associated with these items stem from muscle stiffness.

The lower back enables us to stand upright. For the spine to accomplish this, it distributes the weight over the length of the spine. Injuries or strains cause the weight (force) to be concentrated in one area. This can over stretch a muscle or tendon causing damage. If the concentration of weight continues, then more damage is done.

Massage chairs have found their way into more medical and chiropractic offices as a treatment to the muscles, ligaments and tendons of the lower back. The role of the massage chair is to help to loosen and relax these tight muscles. They have a number of specialized techniques that are applied for effective therapy.

For instance, a slow, continuous kneading of the lower back muscles along the ribs helps to stretch them to retain their elasticity. A rolling massage is applied to the whole spine. The rollers of the massage chair move slowly up the spine slightly adjusting each bone in the spinal column. The massage chair comes with a number of settings that can be targeted for effective relief.

One therapy used to help the healing process is the application of heat. Heaters are located throughout the massage chair. Heat can be applied to various areas of the body or the entire body. Heat is thought to help reduce swelling after activities and to help circulation.

One common treatment to help heal the spine is the application of traction. Massage chairs come equipped with 3 traction methods. There are lower body tractions which stretch the legs. There are arm and shoulder tractions which stretch the arms. There are traction for the discs of the spine using the rollers in the chair back.

Now, the makers of massage chairs also incorporate other technologies like an MP3 music player. Music helps the mind to relax and take the focus off the painful areas. As the mind relaxes, the tension in the muscles is released. The massage treatments become more effective when the mind is not reacting and holding the muscles under tension.

As you can see the occurrence of low back pain is high considering all of its many causes. Almost everyone will have some incidence of lower back pain sometime in their life. For some the pain will be mild, but for others the pain can be quite severe. It is good to know your options and be educated in your choices. Find the right treatments for your and consult with your physician. Technology advances and massage chairs have become very sophisticated. Consider a massage chair a multi-faceted asset in your long term back care health.

Begin your research into Massage Chairs and discover the premier brands like Panasonic, Omega and Sanyo. These companies deliver invigorating and soothing massage therapy to make you feel your best. View Massage Chair Reviews to compare the features that are most beneficial for you.

What You Need To Know About Spine Surgery

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An Intervertebral Disc, or Spinal Disc, has two main components. The first, the annulus fibrosis, is the outer layer. This can be likened to the dough part of a jelly doughnut. The second, inner layer, comparable to the jelly portion of a jelly doughnut is known as the nucleus polposus. The inner nucleus portion functions primarily as a fulcrum for movement and as a shock absorber to handle the impacts of movement.

To learn more about how the disc does this think of that jelly doughnut. Now, I want you to imagine what would happen to the jelly if you put some pressure on the front end of the doughnut. The jelly would migrate or move towards the back. The opposite would occur if you put pressure on the back portion of the doughnut. The disc functions in a similar manner and acts as a fulcrum upon which movement can occur. When one develops a prolapsed disc the jelly/ nucleus pulposis is forced out of the doughnut/ disc and may put pressure on the nerve located near the disc. This will give one the symptoms of sciatica or a corresponding radiculopathy (numbness/tingling/shooting pain/etc.).

As we get older our tissues dehydrate and this limits the shock absorbing capacity of the disc. The annular fibers get weaker with age and begin to tear more easily when subjected to repetitious stress. In many cases this doesn’t cause pain, while in some is does.

The medical term for disc which have begun to dehydrate is known as degenerative disc disease and if severe enough may be accompanied by bony changes termed spondylosis.

When the annulus fibrosus tears due to an injury or the aging process, the nucleus pulposus can begin to extrude through the tear. This is called disc herniation. Near the posterior side of each disc, all along the spine, major spinal nerves extend out to different organs, tissues, extremities etc. It is very common for the herniated disc to press against these nerves (pinched nerve) causing radiating pain, numbness, tingling, and diminished strength and/or range of motion. In addition, the contact of the inner nuclear gel, which contains inflammatory proteins, with a nerve can also cause significant pain. Nerve-related pain is called radicular pain.

Herniated discs are often referred to by any of the following names such as a slipped disc, ruptured disc, or a bulging disc. In medical terms there are three degrees of disc injury:

1. Protruded Disc

2. Extruded Disc

3. Sequestered Disc

Up until a few years ago surgery was the only option for those who failed therapy. A gap between these two groups left no other options for those who failed therapy. Soon you will learn about a new option that bridges the gap between failed therapy and surgery.

If you’ve failed conventional therapy at that point surgery is usually investigated as an option. However, the presence of incontinence, weakness and numbness of genital regions or function is known as cauda equina and considered an emergency situation requiring surgical intervention.

A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by the Cochrane Collaboration concluded that “limited evidence is now available to support some aspects of surgical practice.” Recently, additional randomized controlled clinical trials have refined the indications for surgical interventions.

Only after all other means have been exhausted should surgery be considered as an option.

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Deal With Sciatica The Easy Way

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Sciatica is a medical condition whereby you feel pain in the lower areas of the back right down to the lower limbs. The pain is restricted to numbness; tingling sensations and a weakened back and limbs. For those of us who haven’t experienced sciatica you can be rest-assured that there is nothing to worry about, it is a fairly subtle and treatable pain.

The word sciatica stems from the sciatic nerve which is by far the longest nerve in the human body. And as nerves are the strands of flesh that transmit impulses of pain and pleasure it is understandable that sciatic nerve pain has certain distinct features. When someone experiences sciatic pain they experience numbness in the lower back to lower limbs; a weakening of the limbs and a tingling sensation in the same areas.

A lot of causes have been cited as the sources of pain but only a few of those are actually real causes. When sciatic pain is triggered what would have happened is that pressure would have been applied against the sciatic nerve causing to swell. So when the nerve is swollen it is only natural that sensations will become distorted resulting in the numbness and tingly feeling. This is the case when you sit for a long time in an uncomfortable position.

On top of this the bone structures in the spinal column can be a direct cause of sciatica. When vertebrae in the column slip over each other when you fall awkwardly they exert pressure against the sciatic nerve. And again the impulses of sensation will become distorted and numbness can ensue.

Sciatic pain is a very normal form of pain, it’s the name that makes it seem like it is a complicated condition. Owing to this the treatments are very much simple. One remedy is the ice pack. Fill a plastic with ice and tie it close. After this take the ice-pack and rub it gently over the places you feel the most pain. Do this three times a day and you’ll be feeling a lot better by the morning of the next day.

If extreme cold against your spine is unbearable there is an option you can pursue. You can try out the heat-pack and get the same positive results. Take the usual bed warmer tube and fill it up with hot water. And just like the ice-pack rub it around the areas where you feel the most pain. Pain relief will follow a few hours afterwards depending on your condition.

Another form of treatment is massage therapy. With massage therapy the irregularities in the lower back causing swelling will be greatly readjusted. The good thing about a massage is that it triggers the release of ‘feel good’ hormones as well as relaxing muscles in the lower back. In addition to this you could also try acupuncture.

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