Warm answer to Back Pain

This from the Macon County news
Avoiding back/neck pain with warm weather activities
Thursday, 19 March 2009
As the weather gets warmer, many people abandon their winter hibernation and begin to participate in outdoor activities such as gardening, golf, and yard work. Unfortunately, jumping into activities that you are not physically prepared for can often exacerbate an underlying, and sometimes unknown, back or neck problem. What many people don’t understand is that neck and back pain are rarely the result of one incident or injury. Factors such as physical conditioning, poor posture/body mechanics, deceased flexibility, and stressful living and working habits (not enough sleep, poor nutrition, smoking) all contribute to neck and back disorders.

In many cases, a spinal problem begins to develop long before the first episode of pain is experienced, and the underlying problem actually continues after the initial episode of pain subsides. Participating in activities one is unprepared for often causes a painful episode of muscle spasm and inflammation. This often causes a person to become protective and inactive. Unfortunately, limited movement then causes stiffness and weakness which makes the original problem worse. Thus a vicious cycle is established.

The most current research suggests that bed rest and other forms of passive treatment are at best, of limited value, and at worst, can actually be harmful. Careful activity and the right kind of exercise are very important in the treatment of neck and back pain. It is important to start exercise early, usually within a day or two after the pain is experienced, to break the cycle of pain, stiffness, and weakness. In rehabilitation, the focus of treatment is preventing the next painful episode while dealing with the present problem.

A regular exercise program is important for preventing back and neck problems. A good program should incorporate aerobic exercise (such as 20 minutes or more of walking) and exercises for both strengthening and flexibility. A physical therapist specializing in the treatment of orthopedic problems can help design a plan that will meet individual exercise needs.

There are many steps you can take to lessen your risk of back and neck injury as you become more active this spring. These include proper aerobic conditioning, using good posture and body mechanics, maintaining a reasonable level of flexibility and strength, and controlling stress. When problems do occur, careful activity and the right kind of exercise are essential to both rehabilitate the current injury and prevent future flare-ups.

This information provided by the professional staff of HealthWorks Physical Therapy Specialists. HealthWorks is a private, Outpatient Physical Therapy Center.

I like this, does it mean I can tell my wife we should move to southern Spain?
Failing that go to www.backpainloss.com
Regards
Paul