Habitat Furnishings

I came across an article entitled Understanding and Coping With Low Back Pain by someone simply listed as “Shaun.”  According to the article an estimated 26 million Americans deal with frequent or chronic low back pain.

There are many different conditions that can cause low back pain.  Some of these things include normal wear and tear due to aging, injuries or trauma, or sometimes something as simple as incorrectly lifting a heavy object, like putting a heavy suitcase into the trunk of a car.  Low back pain can also be a sign of a problem such as arthritis, osteoporosis, or a herniated disc.

Lower back pain is not a condition that should be ignored. It is important to seek medical attention to find out the cause(s) and possible treatment(s) for your low back pain.

Almost everyone experiences low back pain at some point.  The important thing to do is to make sure sure the problem doesn’t become chronic or reoccurring.

According to the article, here are some things that your health care provider may suggest to help ease your low back pain:  (You can read the details about each by clicking on the above link.)

Rest – But only for a short time.

Medication – This would be based on the type of pain and your medical history.

Exercise – Exercises that strengthen your back and abdominal muscles (core muscles) are helpful.

Massage Therapy – This can be used as part of a comprehensive plan and can be combined with physical therapy, acupuncture and medication.

Many people seek relief from their lower back pain by choosing a more comfortable mattress.  Although not cure-all for a back injury, a comfortable mattress can help relieve low back pain and even eliminate it if your mattress was the cause of your pain to begin with.  Two mattress that you should check out are an air bed and a 100% natural latex mattress.

According to the blog posted on Earth Times by “dpa,” Poor sofa choice can lead to back pain.  Last year I helped a friend shop for a new sofa and can appreciate what an important choice this is.  The article states that a combination of poorly designed chairs and lack of activity can lead to back pain.  (This is according to a spinal health association in Germany, AGR.)

According to AGR, people who spend long hours in front of a TV or monitor are candidates for back problems.  I can personally attest to this.  Although lack of activity is not an issue for me, I am currently shopping for a well-designed chair that will be more comfortable when I am working in front of the computer.

AGR says that seats need to align with a person’s upper thigh and that the height of the seat should be adjustable.  The seat should also be wide enough and the back needs to be adjustable and up to shoulder height.  Built-in back lumbar support is helpful too.  (That is what I am looking for in an office chair.)

The above advice may work for an office chair, but what about a sofa, which usually serves people of varying sizes?  My advice – Get off the sofa and get moving!

Another way to help with back pain is by choosing the right mattress.  Everyone spends much more time in bed than on a sofa or in an office chair.  Two very comfortable mattresses to check out are the 100% natural latex mattress and the air bed.

The article Christmas turkeys are a pain in the ‘back’, literally gave me a chuckle but also spurred me to write about lifting properly to avoid back pain.  At one time or another, most people are guilty of lifting heavy items improperly.

This article, which is out of London, states that the British College of Osteopathic Medicine reports more back injuries after Christmas than any other time.  The BCOM claims that failing to bend the knees properly when lower the turkey into the oven can pull muscles in the back and lead to strained ligaments.  They also suggest that carrying too many heavy shopping bags also can lead to “turkey back.”

Dr. Ian Drysdale is quoted as saying, “When you’re lifting the turkey out of the oven, bend your knees and keep your back straight.  Don’t stoop or twist and you’ll avoid unnecessary pulled muscles.”  When it comes to shopping, Dr. Drysdale says, “When it comes to shopping sprees, make sure you avoid carrying all your bags in one hand – try and distribute the weight as evenly as you can.”

I think there are other factors that contribute to back pain this time of year.  They include shoveling snow, cutting down or carrying Christmas trees, reaching and over stretching to decorate trees, pulling decorations out of the attic, hanging lights, putting items together, and tossing your young relatives into the air during family visits.

One way to help ease your back pain is by sleeping on a comfortable mattress.  Two comfortable specialty beds you should look into are the air bed and the latex mattress.