all about the back
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Learn about all about the back, and learn how to make yours moreTRANSCRIPT
ANATOMY, YOUR ACHING BACK, AND KEEPING THE BACK HEALTHY
All About the Back
Your healthy back: anatomy
A healthy spine
A Healthy Back is affected by:•Muscles•Ligaments•Vertebrae•Discs•Joints•Nerves
•Spinal cord
From: Chiropractic Resource Organization
Back: X-ray view
Here is an x-ray view of the spine.Notice the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back) and lumbar (lower back) vertebra.
See how vertebra change as you look down the spine. This reflects the different functions of the neck, mid back and lower back.
Your pain, where it is and why it is
1. Cervical spine (neck): Neck pain often caused by muscle, ligament or tendon strain. Will usually heal with time and treatment (ice, heat, medication, chiropractor.
2. Thoracic Spine (upper back): Rarely source of pain. Can have pain with shoulder or upper back muscular strain.
3. Lumbar spine (lower back): More motion than thoracic. Also, carries all the weight. Most injured area. We will look at this in depth.
4. Sacral region (bottom of spine): pain mostly caused by sacroiliac joint, and more common in women.
Symptoms of back pain
Back pain symptoms include:Aching or stiffness anywhere
along spine from neck to hipsSharp localized pain in neck,
upper back, or lower backChronic ache in middle or low
backBack pain that radiates from
low back to buttocks, thigh, calf and toes
Inability to stand straight without having painFrom:
Chiropractic Resource Organization
When to call the doctor
Call your doctor if:You feel numbness, tingling
or loss of control in arms or legs (may indicate damage to spinal cord)
The back pain extends down the leg (may indicate sciatica)
Pain increases when you cough or bend forward (may be herniated disc)
Urine or fecal incontinenceDull pain in one area of spine
when lying or getting out of bed (could be osteoporosis)
Sources of back pain
Although the source is not always known, here are some possibilities:
Disc degenerationKidney problemsMuscle spasmAlignment of vertebraeRuptured discOsteoporosisSpinal stenosis (narrowing of spinal canal)Severe curvatures (scoliosis or kyphosis)Strain to muscles or ligaments of back
The discs of the back
•There are 26 bones in the spine.•The vertebral column protects the spinal cord.•Between each vertebrae is an intervertebral disc.•The discs are filled a gelatinous liquid, called nucleus pulposus.•The liquid nucleus pulposus provides cushioning to the spinal column.•The annulus fibrosus surrounds the nucleus pulposus to keep it intact during periods of stress to the spinal column.•The intervertebral discs allows the vertebral column to be flexible and act as shock absorbers during activity.
What is disc degeneration?
Disc degeneration refers to changes in the spinal discs. The changes can results from
osteoarthritis (breakdown of cartilage the protects the joint),
herniated disc (a bulge or breaking open of a spinal disc) or
spinal stenosis (narrowing of spinal column)
View diagrams of each condition on next screen…
Osteoarthritis of spine Herniated disc
Spinal Stenosis
Home treatment for back pain
Bed rest is NOT recommended.Reduce regular physical activities for a few days to
calm back and reduce inflammationApply ice for the first 48 to 72 hours, then heat
and/or ice after that.An over the counter pain reliever (ibuprofen) will
relax the muscles and decrease inflammationWhen sleeping, a side position (fetal) with a pillow
between the knees might help. If you sleep on your back, then put a rolled towel under knees.
Avoid heavy lifting or twisting of backReturn to activity with light cardiovascular activitySee a physical therapist for stretching and
strengthening AFTER the pain subsides.
Avoid these exercises until approved by doctor.
JoggingGolfBalletWeight liftingLeg lifts when lying on stomachSit ups with straight legs
Additional treatments
Possible treatments may include:Injection of steroids or anestheticsRadiofrequency ablation (electrical stimulation to
specific nerves)Antidepressants and/or anticonvulsantsChiropractors (use with caution)AcupuncturePsychotherapy (stress management & relaxation)BiofeedbackAlexander Technique, Pilates, Feldendkrais
Method, aquatic therapy and yoga have all been used with some success
Interventions: Video
Spinal Fusion
Low back surgery
Acupuncture
Uncommon pain relievers
Distraction therapy
Artificial discs
Extreme exercise for back pain
WebMD has a series of instructional videos. Here are a sampling of videos which help explain interventions for back pain. Click on the links.
Maintain a healthy back: Exercise
Regular exercise is crucial in maintaining a healthy back. In addition to your regular exercise program, the following websites offer some specific ideas:
FDA Lower-Back exercisesWebMD (video) WebMD (text)
Other ways to maintain a healthy back
Maintain a healthy weightLift properlyMaintain good postureBuy a good mattressReduce stressWarm up before exerciseSupport lower back when
sitting
Posture illustration from APT
Additional things for a healthy back
Avoid standing for long periods of timeNO high heelsIf you sit for a long period of time, the chair
should have an adjustable seat, back, armrests & swivel seat
Use a stool under your feet so the knees are higher than your hips
Place a small pillow or rolled towel behind your lower back
Get up and walk around at least once an hourQuit smokingRelax…Try yoga, tai chi or massage
Final note
Don’t let a bad back ruin a good life.
Do something now!